Page 17 - Commercial Suffolks 2021
P. 17
• Superior Muscle Depth/Gigot
Muscularity EBVs = Enhanced
carcase conformation
• Fat Depth EBV = Reliable
indicator of the fat classification
achieved by sire progeny
Go for growth when
selecting Suffolk rams
There is often as much variation
within a breed, as between breeds
and RamCompare data showed the
benefit of selecting those Suffolk
rams with the highest Scan Weight
EBV was considerable.
The Top Suffolk rams ranked on
their Scan Weight EBV had the
genetic potential to produce…
• 0.5kg heavier carcases
• Lambs finishing slightly earlier
• Superior carcase conformation
• Slightly leaner carcases This is no coincidence given the
This improvement in performance long history of the breed when it
would easily be worth an extra £3 comes to the use of ultrasound
- £5 per head on most commercial scanning and in more recent years,
farms. computed tomography. These
measures provide an independent
Selecting a Suffolk to measure of carcase yield, which
enhancing muscling across are used within Signet’s genetic
the loin evaluations to improve meat yield;
Where Suffolk sheep often excel is thus combing the strengths of the
in their muscling across the loin. In Suffolk in terms of both growth and
this mixed breed trial, over half of muscling into an overall breeding
the leading rams when ranked for index.
muscle depth were Suffolk.
COMMERCIAL SUFFOLKS | SUMMER 2021 15
