Hafod y Llan Group Breeding Scheme

This is the latest group of Welsh Mountain sheep breeders to come together to form a group breeding scheme - the group is currently in its second year. The five members all farm large flocks of sheep on Snowdon hence hardiness is an essential attribute which must be retained in their sheep. Also twins are not welcomed in this environment. The primary objective of the group is to improve carcase quality - although a level of fatness is required to take the animals through the winter in such harsh conditions. All the ewes originally selected in the nucleus flocks were scrapie tested and members are looking to increase scrapie resistance in their flocks through using only group 1 rams as reference sires.

The members selected two rams, on appearance, to use as reference rams in the first autumn. For the second autumn the highest index reference ram from the first year was used again together with a fresh ram, selected again on appearance. The reference rams are used through natural service with breeders bringing ten to fifteen ewes to run with each ram for around three weeks.

Lambs are recorded as soon as possible after birth, weighed in late June and scanned for back fat and eye muscle depth in September. Breeders also record an equal number of lambs sired by one of their own rams - this increases the pool of rams and of lambs available for selection. The index used to rank the lambs and adult stock concentrates on improving carcase quality and maternal ability.

As is common in Welsh mountain flocks, rams are first used as yearlings and the first crop of yearling rams with indices will be available for selection as reference rams this autumn. Indexed yearling ewes will also be available to replenish the nucleus flocks.