Next phase of OVIGEN announced

OVIGEN (sheep genomics research project) is now offering heavily subsidised genotyping to ram breeders that participated in the initial stages of this project.

These initial stages offered all performance recording ram breeders in the Texel, Charollais, Suffolk, Belclare, Vendeen and Beltex sheep societies an opportunity to avail of free genotyping for all pedigree sheep within their flocks. The objective of this genotyping was to lay a foundation for future parentage verification within the flocks and genomic evaluations.

Subsidised genotyping available for 2017

OVIGEN is now inviting breeders to genotype 2015 and 2016 born females within their flocks (these sheep were not genotyped in the initial phase of OVIGEN). Unfortunately the projects remaining budget can no longer cover the full genotyping cost so a subsidised rate will be offered, the cost to each OVIGEN participant will be as follows;

For females;

• €3 per female animal genotyped (+€2 per DNA tag if a tag is required)

For males;

• €6 per male animal genotyped (+€2 per DNA tag if a tag is required)

*There may be a requirement to purchase a tagger to apply DNA ordered through Sheep Ireland. The tagger required (see image of below) and a short video on how to use the tagger can be found by clicking here. It will be possible for breeders to order one of these taggers when selecting sheep to genotype via the Sheep Ireland genomics web-screens.

When can breeders start ordering genotypes?

This ordering can now be done on new web screens which have been in development for a number of months. These new web screens offer breeders a user-friendly and efficient way to make use of this exciting new technology. As has been detailed in previous weekly updates, this genotyping is being made available in 2017 at a highly subsidised rate, which will hopefully entice breeders to continue genotyping their breeding animals, thus maintaining a full flock of genotyped ewes and breeding rams.