Parentage
SHEPHERD® Ultra is Zoetis’ enhanced parentage reporting solution for sheep, designed for breeders or commercial farmers who have less available management information (such as known sire and dam lists), or for those wanting gene tests on all animals tested.
MANAGEMENT BENEFITS
- Multi sire mating, so more ewes pregnant to stud rams in first cycle.
- Pasture conservation, due to fewer mating mobs.
- Labour saving, avoiding the need for tagging at birth.
- Less interference for easier lambing.
GENETIC GAIN BENEFITS
- Increased accuracy of breeding values through more accurate pedigree.
PROCESS
- The process involves DNA sampling of rams twice – as they go out with the ewes, and again as they come in.
- Ewes are sampled once at scanning, and the lambs once at tailing.
- Management records are also important, such as mating and docking groups.
- Parentage and SIL BV analysis are completed in time for the most effective decision making.
Genomics
Shepherd® Select is Zoetis’ leading genomic tool, enabling farmers to accelerate genetic gain by identifying genetically superior animals earlier, and reducing costly selection and breeding mistakes.
USES
There are various uses for Shepherd® Select, including:
- Shepherd® Select test a selection of ram hoggets before hogget mating to ensure that the best genetics are actually being used.
- Screen a selection of two-tooth rams with before using Shepherd® Select, to ensure the most FE tolerant rams are being used.
- Shepherd® Select test two-tooth rams before sale to ensure that your best genetics are not being sold. Or, if they are being sold, that the sale price reflects the investment made and the true value of the ram.
- In commercial flocks, Shepherd® Select can be used to monitor genetic trends, discover which rams are working and to select the best ewe lambs for retention.
SELECTION
The most efficient and economic way to use genomics is through two-stage selection.
- Rank your structurally sound young ram hoggets using SIL eBVs
- Shepherd® Select the top 20% (this ranks these top rams more accurately)
Then select your most superior rams to sire the next generation.
WHAT BREEDS CAN USE Shepherd® Select?
Shepherd® Select can be used in these New Zealand sheep breeds.
- Romney
- Coopworth
- Perendale
- Composite (Various)
NB: Your flock doesn’t need to be purebred, but must have at least 75% bloodlines for that breed or have at least 30% combination for composites.
The efficacy of genomics relies on maintaining a strong link to New Zealand’s industry-wide reference pool of high density genotypes. Testing sires with Shepherd® Connect takes care of this.
USES
- Shepherd® Connect is principally used on stud farms, but commercial farms may use this to connect their rams to the data pool to enable Shepherd® Select to be used.
- Shepherd® Connect is for animals that will have a large impact on the genetic data pool. Farmers need the depth of the information Shepherd® Connect provides, to inform subsequent Shepherd® Select results.
- Young animals are tested with Shepherd® Select, but their results draw on the greater information provided by their sires’ Shepherd® Connect results. This then delivers higher accuracy to the young animals’ breeding value.
Your Total Genomic Analysis Program
Shepherd® Complete is exactly that – a complete package of genetic testing services, designed to maximise your return on investment in genomic technology and help you reach your breeding goals faster.
USES
Shepherd COMPLETE provides a combination of the following testing services;
- Shepherd ULTRA – Parentage service for lambs to accurately identify parents.
- Shepherd® Select – used on a selection of ram lambs to identify superior rams for the future breeding season.
- Shepherd® Connect – used on sires that will have a significant impact on future generations, ensuring a strong linkage to the genomic reference population and accuracy of current and future evaluation results.
RESULTS AND ANALYSIS
Your Zoetis representative works with you to establish:
- Where your breeding program is at now
- Where you want it to go, and
- What needs to happen to get from (a) to (b).
The rep then customises a genetic testing strategy that aligns with your breeding objectives. They remain involved throughout the process, helping you interpret and implement results for maximum benefit.
Results are made available through traditional channels and Zoetis’s on-line reporting tool SearchPoint®. This intuitive, powerful and insightful tool lets you analyse and organise your data in ways that have not been possible to date.
