The Power of NSIP to Increase Your Profits

August 17, 2015

Rusty Burgett, Program Director

NSIP to Increase Profits

• National Sheep Improvement Program

– “A profit driven genetic selection tool”

• Our Mission:

– To provide predictable, economically important genetic evaluation information to the American sheep industry by converting performance records into relevant decision-making tools.

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NSIP to Increase Profits

• Why do we need a profit driven genetic selection tool for U.S. sheep?

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Importance of Genetic Selection

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• U.S. Sheep Industry Roadmap

• Productivity Improvement

– Wider adoption of Quantitative Genetic Selection

• Genetics are the foundation to build upon

Importance of Genetic Selection

Phenotype = Genetics + Environment

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Estimated Breeding Values

• EBVs are tools that:

– Minimize guesswork of ram selection

– Assign number values to genetic merit

– Allows for quick, easy comparison

– More powerful than actual performance data, adjusted means...

– Focused on economically important traits

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Value of a Ram

• Profit is determined by pounds of lamb(wool) sold per ewe.

– Number of lambs born

– Number of lambs weaned

– Birth, weaning and post weaning weight of lambs

– Wool yield and quality

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Value of a Ram

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Value of a Ram

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How do we Get EBVs?

• Similar to EPDs

• Step 1.) Measure Phenotypic traits of animal

– Body weights

– Carcass measurements

– Reproduction

– Wool Traits

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Adjust for Variation

• Step 2.) Account for environmental differences (Birth type, feed…)

Phenotype = Genetics + Environment

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Adjust for Variation

• Contemporary group rearing

– Raise similar lambs in a similar environment

• Multi-flock comparison

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Analyze pedigrees

• Step 3.) Compare animal to all of its relatives

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Analyze Pedigrees

• An individual’s performance is compared to every known relative

– Including relatives in other flocks

• Adjust for genetic relationship (shared genes) and heritability of each trait

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How do we Get EBVs?

• Isolate the genetic differences between animals

– Account for know sources of variation

– Compare to all related animals

• Assign numeric value to genetic merit

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The Power of NSIP

• Because environmental differences are eliminated and pedigrees are analyzed, EBVs are more powerful than:

– Raw data

– Adjusted weights

– Ram tests

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The End Result

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The Good News?

• You don’t have to worry about doing any genetic calculations!

– NSIP takes care of all the work

• Enrolled flocks just submit measures and EBVs are returned

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What Traits are available?

• Weight:

– Birth

– Weaning

– Post Weaning

– Yearling/hogget

• Carcass:

– Eye muscle

– Fat depth

• Fleece:

– GFW

– Curvature CV

– Fiber Diameter

• Reproduction:

– NLB

– NLW

• Fecal Egg Count

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What Traits are available?

• Production Index-

– Combines multiple traits into 1 figure

• USA Range

• USA Maternal

• Carcass Plus

• USA Hair

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Importance of Ram Selection

• Rams represent half of the genetics of the next lamb crop

– Market lambs

– Replacement ewes

• Does NSIP really improve genetics?

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Genetic Progress

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0

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2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Nu

mb

er

of

Lam

bs

Bo

rn E

BV

(%

)

Targhee Reproduction

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0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014We

anin

g an

d M

ate

rnal

W

ean

ing

We

igh

t EB

Vs

(lb

)

Targhee Growth

-2

0

2

4

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8

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2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014Fle

ece

We

igh

t an

d F

ibe

r D

iam

ete

r EB

Vs

Targhee Wool

99.0

100.0

101.0

102.0

103.0

104.0

105.0

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

USA

Ran

ge E

BV

s ($

)

Western Range Index

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Genetic Progress

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Nu

mb

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of

Lam

bs

Bo

rn a

nd

W

ean

ed

EB

Vs

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Polypay Reproduction

NLB (%)

NLW (%)

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2.0

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anin

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rnal

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ean

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igh

t EB

Vs

Year

Polypay Growth

WW (lb)

MWW (lb)

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14 extra lambs/100 ewes lambing!

1.75 pounds heavier @ 60 days=201 more lbs of lamb!

Genetic Progress

0.00

1.00

2.00

3.00

4.00

5.00

6.00

7.00

8.00

9.00

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

We

anin

g an

d P

ost

we

anin

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eig

ht

EBV

s

Year

Suffolk Growth

WW (lb)

PWW (lb)

-0.0350

-0.0300

-0.0250

-0.0200

-0.0150

-0.0100

-0.0050

0.0000

0.0050

0.0100

0.0150

Eye

Mu

scle

an

d F

at D

ep

th E

BV

s

Year

Suffolk Carcass

EMD (in)

Fat (in)

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How to Get Started• Using EBVs from NSIP in your ram selection

– Demand EBVs from your suppliers

• If you are a seedstock producer, join NSIP!

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Not a Silver Bullet

• Visual appraisal of ram for:

– Sound feet and legs, free of foot rot

– Correct mouth structure

– Breeding soundness exam

– Health status and susceptibility

• Scrapie

• OPP

• Spider

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Not a Silver Bullet

• Does not replace good management

– Breeding Program

• Including cross breeding!

– Nutrition

– Marketing

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Conclusion

• NSIP is designed to:

– Reduce risks associated with ram selection

– Expedite genetic progress

– Increase productivity and profitability

Visit www.nsip.org for more information including percentile and elite sire reports

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Thank you!

• Questions?

• Paid for in part by the American Sheep Industry

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Step 1. Analyze Production

• Quantify current production level:

– Number of lambs born/ewe

– Number of lambs weaned/ewe

– Average weaning weight of lambs

– Average post weaning growth (ADG)

– Loin eye area and back fat thickness

NLB 1.2

NLW 0.8

WWT 62

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Step 2. Set Goals

• Establish a goal for improvement of each trait

• Prioritize importance of each goal for profit

Trait Current Goal Priority

NLB 1.2 2.0 2

NLW 0.8 2.0 1

WWT 62 68 3

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Step 3. Use EBVs in Selection

• Start with Production Indexes

– Combine multiple traits into one value

– Maternal-USA Maternal

– Terminal-Carcass Plus

– Range-USA Range

– Hair-USA Hair

– Select from top 40% of the index

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http://nsip.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/62-Percentiles.pdf

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Index of 116.0 or higher

Step 3. Use EBVs in Selection

• Select for individual traits

– Based on priority of goals

• Priority 1.-select ram in top 10% of breed for that trait

• Priority 2.-select ram in top 20% of breed

• Priority 3.-select ram in top 25% of breed

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Step 3. Use EBVs in Selection

Trait Current Goal Priority Percentile

NLB 1.2 2.0 2 Top 20%

NLW 0.8 2.0 1 Top 10%

WWT 62 68 3 Top 25%

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http://nsip.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/62-Percentiles.pdf

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Top 10% have 24.3 or higher

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Trait Current Goal Priority Percentile

NLB 1.2 2.0 2 Top 20%

NLW 0.8 2.0 1 Top 10%

WWT 62 68 3 Top 25%

Step 3. Use EBVs in Selection

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http://nsip.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/62-Percentiles.pdf

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Step 3. Use EBVs in Selection

Trait Current Goal Priority Percentile

NLB 1.2 2.0 2 Top 20%

NLW 0.8 2.0 1 Top 10%

WWT 62 68 3 Top 25%

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http://nsip.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/62-Percentiles.pdf

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Step 3. Use EBVs in Selection

• Prioritizing selection pressure on individual traits will expedite genetic progress

• Priority should be placed on economically important traits

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