Performance Stats
Performance recording is pivotal in achieving high genetic gains at Avalon Genetics.
Sheep Improvement Limited (SIL), Studfax and the new Ani-mate mating selection are all used to record, calculate and generate breeding values (BV), indexes and genetic trends.
| Stud | Breed | SIL No. |
|---|---|---|
| Avalon | Perendale | 845 |
| Avalon | Wiltshire | 4548 |
| Avalon | Texel | 4626 |
Full Performance and Disease Recording
We objectively record all our stud sheep. Sale rams have a comprehensive list of performance and disease resistance data.
| Trait Recorded | Service Provider | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ||
| Fertility | SIL | 41 |
| Growth | SIL | 41 |
| Wool | SIL | 41 |
| Meat Yield | Stockscan | 15 |
| DNA Database | Ovita | 6 |
| Disease Resistance | ||
| Worm Resistance | WormFEC | 21 |
| Dag Score | Private & SIL | 21 |
| Lice & Fly Resistance | Private | 10 |
| Facial Eczema | Ramguard | 7 |
| Footrot | Gene Marker Test | 7 |
Large Scale Progeny Testing
We continue to be involved in large scale progeny testing for productioin and multi-disease resistance traits, especially facial eczema, parasite and footrot resistance. Organic ewe hoggets were tested for lice resistance using the elisha test with these results correlated to their worm resistance indexes.
The top 2ths based on both performance and multi disease resistance are retained as stud sires. Much of our rapid genetic gains is because of our large scale progeny testing programme.