(Beulah; LLeyn; Hill speckle; Llandovery Whiteface; Welsh Mountain –CAMP, Eryri, CAMDA, Elan valley, South Wales Mountain, Tregaron)

The Welsh Index is designed to assist in the selection of hill and upland sheep in order to improve maternal ability, lamb growth rate and carcass value. Using this index will produce a flock of ewes that get their lambs off to a good start and that grow on to produce a heavier carcass, with a high proportion of lean meat. The index takes into account two breeding goals:

1. Maternal ability which is assessed through the performance of a ewe’s lambs at 8 weeks of age. The Maternal EBV is a measure of the ewe’s genetic merit for milkiness and general mothering ability.

2. The lamb’s own potential for growth and carcass composition which is assessed through scanning measurements of fat and muscle depth, together with weight at scanning. This objective aims to identify animals that will produce heavy carcases, with a high proportion of lean meat.

Breeding Objective

To enhance maternal ability, growth rate and carcase conformation.

Influential EBVs

Maternal ability

Muscle depth

Fat depth

Scan weight