Improved worm control strategies for sheep in the hill and lowland sectors S-06-02, S-08-04 & S-09-04
Duration Completed
Team and Leader Dr Carson and team
Organisations involved ARINI
Background and Summary
Timescale
Benefits
Details to follow
Environmental consequences of maintaining crossbred ewes in the hill sector - S-11-05
Duration 4 years
Team and Leader Jim McAdam (APSD), Lynne Dawson and Alistair Caron (ARINI)
Organisations Involved Animal Plant and Science Division and Agriculture Research Institute of Northern Ireland
Background and Summary
Current research evaluating the potential of crossbred ewes to improve lamb output and carcass quality in the hill sector has demonstrated significant improvements in prolificacy and lamb output at weaning through the use of Lleyn X Blackface, Swaledale X Blackface and Texel X Blackface ewes relative to purebred Blackface ewes.
Read more: Environmental consequences of maintaining crossbred ewes in the hill sector - S-11-05
Long term economic consequences of maintaining crossbred ewes in the hill sector- S-10-05
Duration 4 years
Team and Leader Dr Lynne Dawson
Organisations Involved ARINI, Hillsborough
Background and Summary
Previous research has demonstrated that crossbred ewes have a role to play in improving output in the hill flock (Carson and Dawson, 2005).. To date results indicate that, relative to purebred Blackface ewes, Lleyn X Blackface ewes have the potential to increase the number of lambs born by 21%, number of lambs reared by 24% and lamb output at weaning by 24%. Texel X Blackface and Swaledale X Blackface ewes also demonstrated increases in lamb output at weaning by 11% and 13% respectively.
Read more: Long term economic consequences of maintaining crossbred ewes in the hill sector- S-10-05