SRUC geneticists using data collected as part of RamCompare, the National Progeny Test, now have a better understanding of the genetic relationships that exist between those traits measured in the live animals in pedigree flocks and those attributes expressed at the abattoir and in 2025 Signet were able to fit these relationships into Signet’s genetic evaluation to produce more accurate and reliable breeding values for abattoir traits.
News
Genomics – Are we there yet?
We are at the dawn of a genomic age, moving from genetic predictions that are based solely on pedigree and performance data to those that now include genomic data, information about the variation in an animal’s DNA and the individual genes it possesses.
Who is breeding for parasite resistance?
Signet works closely with a large number of hill and maternal flocks who have a strong focus on parasite resistance as part of their breeding programme. Significant project collaboration has allowed a large increase in the number of phenotypes collected Recent work from this dataset, has shown a significant increase in heritability for parasite resistance traits.
Updates to Terminal Sire Evaluation
Short update for Terminal Sire breeders about the planned changes that have now been implemented to the Terminal Sire Evaluation
Host farms needed to gather commercial lamb data for RamCompare project
RamCompare, the UK’s national progeny testing initiative, is seeking new commercial farms to join the project this season across England and Wales.
Breeding for Worm Resistance Directory
Signet’s clients are now able to breed sheep which are more resistant to internal parasites. The details of the flocks involved in this initiative in 2024 are provided here to help commercial farmers who are interested in using Estimated Breeding Values
(EBVs) for worm resistance when purchasing rams.
RamCompare hits major milestone with call out for new ram nominations
The RamCompare project is celebrating its tenth year in 2025 and is seeking new rams to join this year’s breeding season.
New BLUP run dates for Terminal Sire and Hill Breeds
After consulting with our stakeholders, we have decided to adjust our deadline dates from April 2025 to better meet the needs of various breeds. The new deadlines are as follows:
- Terminal Sire Evaluations – Deadline is the 1st Tuesday of the month
- Hill Evaluation – Deadline is the 3rd Tuesday of the month
- Maternal Evaluation – Deadline remains unchanged on the 4th Tuesday of the month
An invitation to Signet clients to discuss New Economic and Environmental Indexes for Terminal Sire Breeds
Signet are planning to update the breeding indexes we use in our genetic evaluation of terminal sire breeds. This AHDB funded research will be delivered by AGBU, the Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit, University of New England, Australia. Research fellow Gus Rose will lead the work, supported by an internationally recognised team.
As part of this work, Gus is heading to the UK to talk to Signet clients about the ways they use the service and what their clients require. To support this engagement a series of meetings are being organised in the lead up to the Sheep Breeders Roundtable in November. It would be great if you could join us.
Genomics – What now for Terminal Sires?
In 2022 AHDB launched the UK’s first genomic breeding values for sheep, as part of Signet’s hill sheep breeding program. Shortly after their release we were approached by several Breed 
Societies looking to share genomic information with AHDB for sheep bred in pedigree flocks if we could work with them to add value to these genotypes. Initial research from this work will be released at stakeholder meetings in the coming month.