Central Progeny Testing (CPT)

The Central Progeny Test (CPT) was set up not as a breed comparison, but rather as a ram and trait comparison. It is focused on identifying our best sheep genetics regardless of breed.  The CPT provides the basis for assessing a large number of rams, and linking this information to an even wider number of animals throughout that breed’s pedigree history.

Genetic links between breeds and breeding groups are critical elements to any genetic evaluation programme. Without genetic linkage the performance of different groups of sheep could not be fairly evaluated. The intention of the CPT is to evaluate as many new sires as possible annually, while genetically linking new bloodlines and strengthening existing ones as best possible throughout Ireland.

What traits are measured, when, how and why?

What is Genetic Linkage?

To maximise the genetic linkage that can be delivered by the CPT, Sheep Ireland attempt to locate widely used pedigree sires across different regions around the country. By taking these rams to a single location and using them on the same flocks, this is genetic linkage working at its very best. Environmental influences on lamb performance are largely eliminated as all lambs are subject to the same conditions, be they climatic, feeding, level of management etc. Essentially rams are now truly operating on a level playing field.

 The CPT is set up to:

  • Examine how much industry rams can vary in growth rate to slaughter.
  • Examine how much industry rams vary in maternal merit.
  • Foster links between Breed Societies, Ram Breeding Groups, and the wider Breeding Industry.
  • Identify leading sires and benchmark sires.
  • Demonstrate to the industry the extent to which rams varied in the value they could add to farm returns.
  • With the collection of valuable data, improve our understanding of the genetic control of carcass merit and maternal merit and their relationship with other production traits.
CPT Launch in 2009

 

The CPT was first started in 2009 with 30 Rams from 5 Breeds used through AI across 2100 ewes. In the breeding season of 2019 there was 27 rams successfully used for AI across 6 different breeds and on 4 different flocks (click here to see CPT flock profiles). All rams are sourced from active LambPlus Flocks based on the number of relatives the ram has in other LambPlus flocks and their Replacement index along with other criteria. Performance data will be collected on all the resulting lambs & this information will be included in each ram’s individual evaluation along with its relatives evaluations.

Sheep Ireland CPT Rams 2019

BreedYear of birthPedigree IDNSISOwner nameCounty
Belclare2017MG1800535IE045979100535HTeagasc AthenryGalway
Belclare2018JR1911615IE042821311615EJohn RenehanKilkenny
Belclare2019BE1901392IE044843201392FEoghan BarrettGalway
Belclare2018MY1803155IE043927003155BRoy ButlerWestmeath
Belclare2019LD1902385IE042905702385HJohn McTigueGalway
Belclare2017BE1801217IE044843201217FEunan BannonWestmeath
Charollais2016A5416035IE044308903184AMaria PhilpottCork
Charollais2018D818035IE042764902432AAlan & George LeechLaois
Charollais201516WKW00247UK031362300247John GrealishGalway
Charollais2018D5618003IE042309201783BDavid O' GormanGalway
Lleyn201624191600552UK074099700552David BeattieCavan
Lleyn201816471808403IE042849508403CSimon BrownKilkenny
Suffolk2017CFN1702680IE041451302680DJames RooneySligo
Suffolk2018KKW1801025UK173144101025Robert WalkerLimerick
Suffolk20199001905608IE041437805608CEric BlakeneySligo
Suffolk2018CZK1800915IE043113900915DGregory RossiterWexford
Suffolk201867B1802188IE041443702188HTJ BroderickGalway
Texel2018DEE1805625IE043573805625HFlor RyanKildare
Texel2018PXE1803147IE044561203147AAnn & Robert O' MahonyCork
Texel2017ASI1701490IE042861101490HEdward TynanKilkenny
Texel2019PNE1913033IE042481513033BStuart RothwellWexford
Texel2019UJI1903211IE041819603211FGerard DelaneyLaois
Texel2019GBE1902254IE043548202254HDiarmuid KeaneLimerick
Vendeen2019LJB19008IE043106100922EShay KennedyWaterford
Vendeen2018TGD181639IE043330901639JMichael McGrathWestmeath
Vendeen2019CCN19008IE043824102508CCiaran CoughlanOffaly
Vendeen2018CCN18029IE043824102429EMartin ConboyRoscommon

Sheep Ireland CPT Rams 2018

BreedYear of BirthPedigree ID NSISOwner NameCounty
Belclare (Link)2016JR1609437 IE042821309437DEoghan BarrettGalway
Belclare2015MN1511041IE042497511041ASalesian Ag CollegeLimerick
Belclare2015TG1522069IE042413322069DTeagasc Research Centre AthenryGalway
Belclare2017MY172944IE043927002944ERoy ButlerWestmeath
Belclare2017WD1701485IE043817801485ELisa O'SullivanKerry
Belclare2017JR1710183IE042821310183FJohn RenehanKilkenny
Charollais (Link)2016D3216059 IE041437804840CAlan & George LeechLaois
Charollais201616PE04907Edward BuckleyCork
Charollais2018A618003IE042837507603ABrian BurkeTipperary
Charollais2016A5416035IE044308903184AMaria PhilpottCork
Charollais2013A8113001IE043406900311DWilliam G DohertyMayo
Charollais2018D8218089IE041357502451BMichael & Sarah O'NeillWexford
Charollais2013130018H13Stewart ThompsonDonegal
Lleyn (Link)20158091509158 UK058205909158David BeattieCavan
Lleyn201619411601649IE045007301649BNicholas SweetmanWexford
Lleyn20146191402463UK030767502463Simon BrownKilkenny
Suffolk (Link)2016HCT1616684UK052150916684Jim & Frampton JefferyCork
Suffolk20179001704922IE041437804922GValerie TiffinKerry
Suffolk2018PBH1801174IE041594601174FCharles J HughesMayo
Suffolk2018UWS1802056UK170002102056Michael PurcellKilkenny
Suffolk2017FKV1703487IE043040003487CSalesian Ag CollegeLimerick
Texel (Link)2017DLI1706506IE043638106506HAnne MurphyWexford
Texel 2018PXI1803087IE044561203087CAnne MurphyWexford
Texel 2017ZEI1701716IE041111701716DPascal KeoghMeath
Texel 2017OKI1705687IE041406805687DAiden & David CraigMeath
Texel 2018FGE1800264IE045159000264BThomas KennyGalway
Texel 2018QYI1801738IE044381501738DEnda TurleyWestmeath
Texel 2015BIE15019IE043702001807FMichael BirdMeath
Vendeen (Link)2015LJB15011IE043106100811JAlan McGraneMeath
Vendeen2018OCQ18015IE041412802831HCheryl O'BrienCork
Vendeen2015OCQ15046IE041412802471DCiaran CoughlanOffaly
Vendeen2016OCQ16013IE041412802548HEna NagleCork

Sheep Ireland CPT Rams 2017

BreedYear of BirthPedigree IDNSISNameCounty
Belclare2017JR170162
IE042821310162BJ. RenehanKilkenny
Belclare (Link)2013TF131634IE042821309561FJ. RenehanKilkenny
Belclare2016MG160288
IE045979100288DM. GottsteinCork
Belclare2016TG1623359
IE042413323359ATeagasc AthenryGalway
Belclare2017BE171109
IE044843201109GE. BarrettGalway
Belclare2014MJ142793
IE042200702793GR. ButlerWestmeath
Charollais (Link)2015A5415021IE044308903005BP. HollandGalway
Charollais2017H117016
IE041043903253AJ. NolanCarlow
Charollais2017A5417035
IE044308903334JE & P O'GormanTipperary
Charollais201414WRF00262UK074615500262E. BuckleyCork
Charollais2016D3216059
IE041437804840CA & G LeechLaois
Suffolk2015KPC1500519UK179072400519E. DuffyMeath
Suffolk (Link)2015LYB1501370 IE042200001370AC. HughesMayo
Suffolk2013NDX13012
UK173128900132M. PurcellKilkenny
Suffolk2016HCT1616684UK052150916684J & F JefferyCork
Suffolk2017PWW1700059
IE045972800059AR. MooreKilkenny
Suffolk2015F621501028
IE042748301028CT. EgarKildare
Texel2017DLI1706506
IE043638106506HA. MurphyWexford
Texel (Link)2016CII16017IE043749315727FG. DelaneyLaois
Texel2017JJF1705127
IE041437805127BR. MaddenMeath
Texel2016DIE16012
IE043054404740ED & J KeaneLimerick
Texel2016WGA1602989
UK010166200989A. O'KeeffeCork
Texel2017DGI1701678
IE041993901678FJ. KellyKilkdare
Texel2014DEE14045
IE043573804745BP. KennyLongford
Texel2015AMF15011
IE043782201222ES. McHughDonegal
Lleyn20136191302190UK030767502190S. BrownKilkenny
Lleyn20158091509158
UK058205909158D. BeattieCavan
Lleyn201018791006670
IE042890106670GS. PottertonKildare
Lleyn20158091508856
UK058205908856W. GalvinOffaly

You can find the 2016 CPT Rams here and the 2015 CPT Rams here.

Contact Sheep Ireland on 023 882 0451 or at [email protected] if you have any further questions on the Central Progeny Test.