MARCH 2019 • COUNTRY LIFE IN BC
Sheep producers seeing value in
genetic program Data helps producers choose high performing breeding stock
by BARBARA JOHNSTONE GRIMMER
ABBOTSFORD – Sheep
producers attending the Pacific Agriculture Show on January 26 received a crash course in using genetic records to improve their bottom line. Quebec purebred sheep
producer Johanne Cameron, armed with an
M.Sc. in sheep genetics and years of GenOvis records, told producers that Quebec producers used to receive a subsidy on a per- ewe basis and had no incentive to improve their flocks. “Many farms had a mix of
breeds, variety of crosses, used crossbred rams, and didn’t pay attention to performance,” she explained. “After the subsidy was gone, sheep farms decreased 47% in 12 years and breeding flocks declined 30%.” But productivity on the
remaining farms improved. Lamb numbers didn’t decline, yet there were fewer albeit more productive ewes. Breeders were encouraged
to keep good records and submit them to GenOvis, a national genetic improvement program based in Quebec, which would calculate the best-performing ewes and rams. And, as producers better understood flock genetics, there was an increased demand for terminal rams evaluated with GenOvis. Even crossbred F1 ewes with good genetic records command a higher price than a similar-looking ewe with no genetic records – sometimes six times more.
MEAS Imp
Cameron visited Victoria for
the Canadian Sheep Breeders Association (CSBA) conference two years ago as a CSBA director and to present on GenOvis. At the time, no BC producers were participating in the program. There are now three. Cameron hopes her latest visit to BC, hosted by the BC Purebred Sheep Breeder’s Association, will prompt more producers to use GenOvis to improve their flocks and assist in culling weak producers.
Breed selection Canada has 52 breeds of
sheep, and a chosen breed should reflect farm reality and objectives, says Cameron. Breeds are further divided into maternal breeds, which have a natural aptitude to be good mothers, with good milk, as well as non-prolific and prolific breeds. Prolific breeds are suited to intensively managed farming systems with good management. Non-prolific breeds have fewer lambs but may have other benefits, such as breeding out of season. Terminal breeds are primarily for growth, size and meat, and are used for ram selection.
Helping Y
Helping You YOUR
countrylifeinbc.com
WEEKLY FARM
NEWS UPDATES
Sign up for FREE today. SURE M AGE IMPROVE AN
Flock productivity rove:
Man emag ent decisions (selection) Strengths and w akne
esses
Cana iad n Shee Genetics Pr grao
comm re cia produce
Fo purebre l
r
Fo in or formation
WWW.GEN
ed and ers
am ep
Save time b using: Ma nti g module (inbre
based on reliable information y
eeding level)
Various reports (PDF and Excel) NEW ENROLMENT T
JOINS US S ARTS I
n : Amélie St-Pierre
NOVIS.CA
geno
IN JANUARY 2019 S
418 856-1200 #221
ovis@cepoq.co
com PON
2018 JD XUV 835M, Stk: 101111, ONLY 11 Hrs, 4WD, Gas, Alloy Wheels, Power Dump, Cab, Warranty June 2019. . . . . CRESTON, BC
prou pro d to
2014 JD XUV 825i GATOR, Stk: 86792, 1254 Hrs, Gas, 4WD, Pwrlift Cargo Box, Highback Sport Seats, Front/Rear Protection Pkg. . . TROCHU, AB
o be your ocal oh CA LT LL ORCONTACTYO ALL TOLLFREE
ORCO A TYOURNEAR ON KA STETT ER •C RO
ALLTOLLFREE 1-88 -831-8 89 ACT YOURNEAR
89 RVU NOKA • STETTLER • COR NAT ON CALGAALGA Y•GARY • DRUMHELLER • H NN ARY •D UM E LER HANNA
EE::1 888 31-8189818 AREST CERVUSERVUS OC
2011 JD X300, Stk: 100181, 490 Hrs, 17 hp, 42” Deck, 44” Snowblower & 42” Front Blade, Material Collection System w/ 7P Cart. .PINCHER CREEK, AB
ou local John De r d al r eere dealer in th hear
2015 JD 997, Stk: 41286, 13 Hrs, 37 hp, Diesel, 72-in 7-Iron Pro Deck, Suspended Seat, Full Warranty Remaining ........... CRESTON, BC
the h a t of h Koo ena s f the o te ays CERVUS JOHN DEERE CRESTON – 1617 Northwest Blvd • (250) 431-9002 CALA L T LT
• CORONATION ON• OLDS• RO U
US LOCATION S
N S •TROCH OCHU O ORCON R D DEER B L OLL ONTACTY LFREE T YO NE CLARE HO M•PI EE: 1-888 257-
RED DEER • BROOKS • BASS O •HIGH CLAR HOLM •
T OURN AREST ERVUS O ATONATIION OKS B SANO HI HRIVER • V
E 1 8 8-257-12497-1249 T CERV
VU LOCA ON •VU
RESHO M P NCHER RER CRE K • CRES O EEK •CRESTON FARM NEWS
2008 JD 7130, Stk: 93883, 13751 Hrs, 100 hp, 673 Loader, Powerquad Trans, Panorama Roof ........... CALGARY, BC
$9,950
2013 JD 6140D, Stk: 85584, 2475 Hrs, 140 hp, PowerReverser, 540/1000 PTO, H310 Lodar , 3 SCV . . . .CLARESHOLM, AB
$69,900
2012 JD 5101EN, Stk: 100688, 2009 Hrs, 101 hp, Narrow, Partial Powershift, Loader Ready, Dual SUV, 82 hp PTO. . . . . . . . . . . CRESTON, BC
$142,700
2015 JD 8320R, Stk: 80132, 2295 Hrs, 320 hp, IVT, IF 800/70R38 & 600/70R30 Tires, FULL Deere AMS, Waranty (Aug 2020) . .PONOKA, AB
$16,250
AgSafe BC regional safety consultant for the North Okanagan, Chad Stewart, second from left, presented Curt, far left, June and John de Dood of Sunninghill Holsteins and Farmer John’s Market in Grindrod with their new safety Certificate of Recognition (COR) in February. COR certification shows that farm employers, like the de Doods, have exceeded health and safety requirements to create a safe workplace for their staff. Canadian Agricultural Safety Week is March 10-16. AGSAFE BC PHOTO
Through careful record
keeping and a good crossbreeding program, superior, uniform market lambs can be produced, improving farm profitability, says Cameron, who went through several exercises on how to use the program effectively.
“After your flock has been evaluated by GenOvis, the next step is to evaluate for conformation,” says Cameron, who is also a well-respected sheep judge. Cameron outlined each
part of the sheep that should be sound, strong and well- balanced, something she
Pre-season has the best selection Purchase your premium used equipment before it’s gone
$59,500 $96,900 $48,900
describes as “functional conformation.” In Quebec, a conformation classifier program trains people to classify flocks. Quebec also has access to ultrasound, which is used in the GenOvis program to determine loin eye and fat cover.
Above and beyond
37
Cho fin
hoose fi anci financ
ho se rom int cing or o
e fromintenterest- cervusequ m
st-free w
cing or low ra e lease u equ pment
$309,000 ow r te leases
t freew iivers e waiver q iipme
t.coc. m/j hn
ers, ow at rs, llow rat
es,, OAC. Visiit us m ohn-de re/us
ses OAC Vis
sit us at
a e t
m/ hn deere/usu edus d
2003 NH BR780, Stk: 100601, Count: 10000, Mega Wide Pickup, 540 PTO, Twine Only. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CRESTON, BC
$19,950
2009 NH H8060, Stk: 103160, 1199 Hrs, 190 hp, 16’ Rotary Hay Head w/ Rubber Rollers, Cab & Axel Suspensions. . . . . . .CRESTON, BC
$8,900
2015 JD L340, Stk: 100887, Bales: 20000, 3’x4’ Large Square Baler w/ VS1202 3 Bale Vertical Stack Accumulator, Roller Chute
....BROOKS, AB
$3,999
1998 JD 348, Stk: 96967, Square Baler, Hydraulic Bale Tension, Side Drop Bale Chute/Side Resistor, Multi Luber, Pickup Gauge Wheels. . . . . . OLDS, AB
$24,950
•VULCAN ON
AN
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
