The Rural Voice, 1995-10, Page 48TOP QUALITY
BREEDING EWES
available year-round
• Suffolk • Ramboulet
• Columbia • Polypay
• Dorset and Crossbreds
Allan Ribbink
R.R. # 1 Tiverton
519-368-7691
ZONE 2 SHEEP BREEDERS
ASSOCIATION
ANNUAL SHEEP SALE
October 21 at 1:00 p.m.
at the Keady Sales Arena,
Keady, ON
For more
information call
Liz Baetz 111
519-881-0539
(evenings)
HIGH QUALITY
SHEEP HANDLING &
FEEDING EQUIPMENT
OFF THE GROUND
BALE FEEDER
• FOOTBATH
• PANELS & GATES
• WORKING CIRCLES & ALLEYS
• GRAIN & HAYFEEDERS
• SALT & MINERAI. FEEDERS
N7 REID
Manufacturing & Sales Ltd.
R.R. 1 MOOREFIELD,
ONT. NOG 2K0
(519) 638-3551
44 THE RURAL VOICE
Advice/Sheep
Rural Affairs, (OMAFRA). Centre
Managers set the price and details on
the various options they offer
regarding health, breeding, pasture,
etc. BIO will provide technician
support, process all the records and
generate ADGs and EPDs. OMAFRA
will provide technical support on
nutrition, management and co-
ordinate sponsorship and evaluation
of the program.
As industry works together,
potential replacement females will
mature into productive brood cows.
Data collected on heifers from Year 1
of the program, indicated 15 per cent
did not raise a calf; however, of those
that did, 93 per cent had rebred.
Some of these heifers performed
exceptionally well, as 22 of their
progeny were evaluated in the Bull
Evaluation Program or Heifer
Development Program last winter.
Contact your local Beef Advisor,
or the Centre Manager for more
details.°
The Ontario Lamb
Improvement
Breeding Strategy
BY LAURIE SCOTT
ACTING SHEEP ADVISOR
The goal of Ontario Lamb
Improvement Breeding Strategy is to
produce large numbers of dam line
replacement ewes of preferred genetic
and known health status which suit
Ontario production conditions.
This program will increase
production, evaluation and marketing
of these improved dam lines. The
Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency,
University of Guelph Animal
Research Program and OMAFRA
Research and Education Branches are
working together to achieve this goal.
OLIBS is designed to meet
producers' needs of purchasing large
numbers of consistent ewes of known
production and health status. The
program will develop dam line traits
of medium body size, extended
breeding season, good milking ability,
prolificacy, early puberty, good
maternal behaviour, complementing
carcass type and longevity.
Dorset and Rideau Arcotts will be
bred to make up the OLIBS Intensive
Dam Line. The Dorset provides an
extended breeding season, short down
fleece, medium build and lower
maintenance cost, while the Rideau
provides prolificacy, livability and
carcass traits.
The elite flock will have 12 of the
best ewes and eight of the best rams
of each of the two breeds. These elite
flock donors will then undergo
embryo transfer and in vitro
fertilization to quickly propagate the
selected dam line genetics. The best
of the offspring will be used as
multipliers. Embryo transfer will be
used to increase the multiplier lines.
Again, the best animals will be
selected to continue in the program.
The final stage of the program is to
transfer large groups of genetically
superior animals to breeder replicating
flocks. Initially, four to eight breeder
flocks will receive between 300 and
500 animals which will allow them to
increase the production of replace-
ment dam line ewes for sale each year
to producers across Ontario and
Canada.
Producers are needed for
Replicating Breeder Flocks. Criteria
includes an acceptable flock health
status, use of a specific health
protocol and breeding strategy and an
extensive record keeping system
complete with a 386 (or better)
computer to run the Ewebyte
program. They will also be required
to be on the Sheep Flock
Improvement Program (SFIP) and
make records available for health,
economic and genetic performance
reviews. They will agree to follow
the program, attend education
programs and stay with the program
for a minimum of five years. There
will be minimum requirements for
facilities, labour and flock size and
the breeder flock producer will agree
to purchase a certain number of
animals from the program and sell a
certain number of replacement ewes
each year.
OLIBS will allow producers to
market animals of proven genetics
and known health status on a
continual basis to meet the needs of
consumers and processors. If you
would like more information about
OLIBS or how to apply to be a
Breeder Flock Producer, contact your
OMAFRA office.°