The past week’s Sheep Ireland Industry Meeting highlighted the latest research shaping the national Sheep Breeding Improvement Programme (€uroStars).

Dr. Noirin McHugh (Teagasc) presented how the economic and carbon values updates & the addition of new traits will impact the industry.

Updates for the €uroStars 2026 evaluation:

1. Economic and carbon values

• Updated current costs and prices in the bio-economic model

• Added carbon value to some traits

2. Addition of new traits

• FEC

• Methane

3. Trait emphasis

• Small changes to emphasis on individual traits overall

4. Win : win

• Updates will improve performance whilst reducing methane

5. Similar research underway in all major sheep producing countries

 

Click to view Dr. Noirin McHugh’s presentation:

Impact of changes to industry

Where will these Indexes take us in 10 years?

Benefits of using a 5-Star Terminal Ram:

1. More lambs (more survival)
2. Less handling of ewes at lambing
3. More lambs that get up and go at lambing
4. Faster finished lambs
5. Producing less methane

• Additional profit to the Industry estimated at €15 million

Benefits of using a 5-Star Replacement Ram: 

1. More lambs (more survival and NLB)
2. More productive ewes – less barren & better mothers
3. More milk (faster early growth)
4. Faster finished lambs
5. Maintaining ewe mature size
6. Producing less methane

• Additional profit to the Industry estimated at €20 million

The research presented on the day is part of an ongoing effort to improve the accuracy of the genetic evaluations to benefit Ireland’s national flock.