Flock visits with LambPlus breeders are currently underway and Sheep Ireland are are taking ewe mature weights of ewes who are going out to rams. LambPlus breeders are encouraged to take ewe mature weights themselves as they are very important in contributing to genetic evaluations. These can be entered very simply via the LambPlus App! The best time to carry out the recording of ewe mature weights is while ewes will be indoors being prepared for the breeding season ahead so what better time to pull out the weighing scales and run them through the race before they are going back out with your stock rams. Using the LambPlus App is the simplest way of recording ewes mature weights, simply go to ‘Weighing’ in your App and record your ewe mature weights as they are being drafted through the race. Ewe mature weights contribute to maternal production and efficiency traits and also contributes to the accuracy of the replacement index in genetic evaluations.
David Coen, Sheep Ireland, explains below the importance of recording ewe mature weights.