Central Progeny Test (CPT) lambing season is almost finishing for 2026. Data collected from commercial animals is the foundation for the genetic evaluations.

The CPT provides a huge amount of data each year. Performance information is collected on all the lambing events and this information is included in each ram’s individual evaluation along with its relatives.

See the following videos where Sheep Ireland’s technician Kevin Mulhall, explains how take the DNA samples at birth  and record lambing data through the LambPlus App:

The sires will be assigned via DNA predictions using tissue samples collected from the lambs ears. DNA combo tags are a very convenient way to get your lambs genotyped, avoiding using a DNA 3rd tag later.

The most effective way to track these events is to use pen boards on each individual lambing pen, and to record all the relevant data at the point of the ewes and lambs entering the lambing pen. Then all the information is uploaded to the database using the LambPlus App. 

As well as data captured at lambing, the ewes and lambs will be weighed and health inspected 3 times throughout the coming year. All of this data will be contributing to the €uro-Star evaluations throughout the year.