There are a small % of marks in the DQI which are awarded to flocks who produce lambs from shared sires. Producing progeny from shared sires improves the level of linkage within flocks.
Flock linkage refers to the genetic connectivity/relatedness between flocks. Providing accurate €uroStars (genetic evaluations) to a performance recording flock is only possible if the flock in question is genetically ‘linked’ to others. Genetic linkage is crucial for accurate genetic evaluation as it allows for fair and accurate comparisons between flocks.
How do I link my flock?
Flocks become linked by sharing rams with other LambPlus flocks within the same breeding season (see below different options). The subsequent lambs born must also have weights recorded on them at the recommended times in order to establish the flock linkage. The more lambs produced in your flock by this ‘linkage’ ram the better, but as a minimum we recommend breeders to produce at least 5 live lambs. It is critical that these lambs are subsequently weighed at the prescribed times.
All performance recording flocks should (where possible) use more than one sire each year in order to keep their linkage levels high. If only one ram is used in a particular flock then it is very difficult for the evaluation to determine if the subsequent lamb performance is due to the sire’s genetics or due to the environment the lambs have been raised in.
How does linkage work?
In the example below Link Ram 1 is the most connected ram as it has been used in most flocks including the CPT, this ram is likely to have the highest accuracy, meaning his evaluation will be more dependable.
Home Ram A, B, C & D have all only been used in one flock but are still linked because a second ram has also been used in the flock and that second ram has also been used in another linked flock.
Home Ram F is not linked, therefor the lambs in this flock will not be linked and the data collected in this flock will be of limited use in the evaluation.
