Latest news

New ‘Ultrasound Scanning Beef Cattle’ Leaflet Available

Unlike growth rate, it isn’t easy to identify cattle with superior muscling across the loin. Ultrasound images enable breeders to select animals with superior loins and avoid those with a high level of carcase fat. Read more...

EBLEX launch flock directory

EBLEX have launched their English Performance Recorded Flock Directory 2013 - which lists breeders in England that record with Signet.

Download a copy here Read more...

New Texel joins EBLEX Ram Linkage Programme

New for 2013
Texel ram "East Middle Superior SCE1100680". If you would like to reserve semen please contact Jim Fingleton. Tel: 07904 160856 or email: eastmiddlejim@hotmail.com Read more...

EBLEX Ram Linkage Scheme - Open to nominations

EBLEX Ram Linkage Scheme - New Round Opens June 2013

EBLEX has just launched the first round of the 2013 Sire Linkage Programme (SLP) and is inviting all sheep breeders who performance record their flocks to take part.
Read more...

New Breeding Manual launched

Breeding manual launched to build on increased demand for EBVs
A new breeding manual to support commercial sheep producers who are looking to enhance their flock through the use of superior genetics has been launched by EBLEX.

A copy can be downloaded from the link below (please note this file is 3MB)

EBLEX Ram Manual 2: Buying a recorded ram to generate Better Returns

Print EBV Charts On-line

Ram breeders and ram buyers can now print Signet’s Standard Sale Charts directly from the internet for 26 of the breeds of sheep that record with Signet Breeding Services.

Click here for details Read more...

Poster on Lamb Mortality

A new poster has been produced by Dr Jo Conington which explains about risk factors influencing lamb mortality.

This is important work bearing in mind:

Lamb survival is the key to more profitable sheep farming and good animal welfare.
Managing known risks to lamb survival can lead to reduced lamb mortality.
Breeding sheep with inherent ability to survive and withstand harsh rearing conditions leads to more robust farming system.

Publication: Farm Animal Genetic Resources

The Governmnet has just published the "UK Country Report on Farm Animal Genetic Resources 2012"

Click here for link to website Read more...

2013 EBLEX Young Bull Promotion Scheme

The Stabiliser bull, Weighton Wold Merlin has been accepted on to the scheme. Merlin is one of the highest recorded growth and best muscle depth bulls in the breed and combines this outstanding top 1% performance with a Calving Value in the top 10%. Read more...

Dorset May Fair EBVs published

May Fair - 7th and 8th May 2013

Estimated Breeding Values for Performance Recorded Poll Dorset and Dorset Horn sheep can be accessed below.

Former Signet Employee Nominated for Award - Vote Now

Lucy Jackson did a fantastic job working for Signet last summer and has recently been nominated for Ag Student of the Year 2013.

Information about Lucy, a student at Reading University can be found at the following website - where you can vote for her and other finalists.

Farmers Guardian Ag Student of the year 2013 Read more...

Signet Hits 10 Year High

Performance recording of sheep is at a 10-year high amid increasing demand, according to latest figures.

Over the past 18 months the number of flocks recorded with Signet Breeding Services – which is funded by industry body EBLEX – has increased by 12 per cent, from 638 in September 2011 to 717 in March 2013. Read more...

Poll Dorset Sale Entries - April 13th 2013

Sedgemoor Sale Entries - 13th April 2013

The Centurion Breeder group of Poll Dorset breeders are having a sale at Sedgemoor Market on Saturday 13th April.

Estimated Breeding Values for entries can be viewed here Read more...

Job Opportunity - Signet Consultant

Signet is advertising for a Sheep and Beef Breeding Consultant

For more information see AHDB Jobs Page
Read more...

Variation in spine characteristics in sheep

Implementing the use of spine traits in a commercial breeding program has been seen to improve meat production from the carcass of larger-bodied pigs. The aim of this study was to assess the extent of variation in spine characteristics within and between breeds of sheep and to investigate the association with body length and tissues traits to deliberate if a similar approach could be applicable in the sheep sector.

Read Claire Donaldson's full paper here Read more...

Article: Scanning beef cattle

Identifing cattle with superior muscling across the loin is difficult, but ultrasound can be used to enable breeders to select animals with superior loins and avoid those with a high level of carcase fat. Selective breeding for muscle depth can greatly enhance total muscle yield.

Click here for article from Vet Image Solutions

Read more...

Article: Good lamb production down to EBV choice

Performance recording could help sheep producers regain the missing 25% in sheep sale returns.

According to Stuart Annand, a Scottish sheep strategy development officer with Quality Meat Scotland, performance recording will be vital to create a flock that produces prime lambs efficiently and profitably from forage and from a quantified genetic base.

Click her for Farmer's Weekly Report Read more...

Breeders encouraged to do it Gangnam style

Well done to the Catherine MacGregor and colleagues for their work at the bull sales. Links to a new video encouraging bull breeders to do it "Gangnam style" are shown below.

If only the world of quantative genetics was this exciting......

Link to Farming Eye

Link to You Tube

For more information about Catherine's work click here Read more...

New Leaflet on Schmallenberg Virus

A new leaflet is available relating to the Schmallenberg virus.

Open leaflet on Schmallenberg Virus
Read more...

Four Teated Sheep

Alun Davies has kindly allowed us to reproduce his publication on the “Performance of ewes selected to have four functional teats”
Read more...

Funding for Phenotyping and Trait Measurement

Sustainable Agriculture and Food Innovation Platform: Next funding competition – “Phenotyping and Trait Measurement”

This multi-million pound funding competition should open mid-March 2013 (and ~£5m government funding could potentially be available). Read more...

CT Update

A meeting has recently been held at Stoneleigh to discuss the provision of CT scanning over the coming season.

Representatives of SAC, Signet, EBLEX, QMS and a selection a breeders and Breed Society representatives were involved in the meeting. Read more...

Performance Recording Sheep on Forage - NSA Winter Focus, Winter 2012

The article entitled 'Performance Recording Sheep on Forage', discusses GxE interaction - the degree of interaction observed between an animal's genetic makeup and the environment in which it is raised. Read more...

Changes to FEC Sampling Service

FEC Sampling Service

Signet are pleased to inform breeders that a Faecal Egg Counting service will be available this year via SAC Veterinary Services.

For more information contact
SAC Veterinary Services, Mill of Craibstone, Aberdeen, AB21 9TB
Tel: 01224 711177 Email: vcaberdeen@sac.co.uk
Read more...

New Performance Recording British Blonde Cattle Leaflet Available

The Signet Beefbreeder Service has now produced a new leaflet to explain the benefits of performance recording and how breeders can get involved in the National British Blonde Cattle Breeding Evaluation. Read more...

Lleyn Sire Reference Group Ram Selection Day 2012

The annual Lleyn Sire Reference Group Ram selection day was held at Worcester Market on the 28th of September 2012. Read more...

New Signet Breeding Specialist

Signet Breeding Services announce the arrival of their new Breeding Specialist, Shane Conway, who will be replacing Carol Davis. Read more...

NSA Breeding Focus, 'A Sheep Farmer Publication’ (Summer 2012 Issue)

Texel Breeders Drive Performance - Industry benefits from recording using latest technology.

Read more...

EBLEX Ram Linkage Programme - New Round

EBLEX has just launched the second round of the 2012 Sire Linkage Programme (SLP) and is inviting all sheep breeders who performance record their flocks to take part.

Read more...

Charollais and Hampshire Down Ram Sales

Estimated Breeding Values for forthcoming Hampshire Down and Charollais ram sales are available under the relevant sections in "Reports"

Charollais Reports

Hampshire Down Reports Read more...

May Fair Poll Dorset Sale – May 2012

Recorded Poll Dorset and Dorset Horn rams achieved a significant premium at the sale, where the trade for rams was generally strong. Signet recorded rams made £140/head more than non-recorded rams. Recorded rams with above average indexes averaged an impressive £1070/head. Read more...

Top 1% Sire chosen as Centurion Poll Dorset Ram of the Year

In a closely run contest, Sherborne Storm 990:S0659 bred by Richard and Robert Hole was selected as the Poll Dorset ram of the Year by the Centurion Breeders Group. Read more...

Performance Recording Beltex Sheep

Genetics are the only part of an animal's performance it can pass on to its lambs and the most accurate measure of genetic merit is an Estimated Breeding Value (EBV). A new booklet is now available to download. Read more...

EBLEX Aims to Help Pedigree Sheep Breeders Maximise Potential

Effective marketing has come under the spotlight in a new EBLEX publication aimed at helping pedigree sheep breeders reap greater rewards from their livestock. Read more...

New Limousin Information

Darren Todd and colleagues at SAC have produced two new posters relating to the Limousin Breed. Copies are reproduced here with permission of the author.

Texel Breeders Drive Towards Increased Loin Muscling

Commercial sheep farmers using recorded Texel sires to produce prime lambs will see an increase in the lean meat yields in the most expensive primal loin cuts in their lambs thanks to some recent adjustments to the Signet Texel index. Read more...

SBRT - Presentations

Copies of presentations given at the SBRT are available to download as pdf files. Read more...

Elite breeding shines through in March/April lambing flock

April born, “Kersey Rising Star” shows that the best Suffolk genetics will shine through in any environment – with this late born lamb achieving EBVs in the Top 1% of the breed in Signet’s latest National Suffolk Breeding Evaluation Read more...

Signet/BLCS Press Release November 2011

Scrotal circumference has been released as an Estimated Breeding Value (EBV) for the first time in UK-based beef evaluations. Read more...

New Scrotal Circumference EBV for Limousin Cattle

A new Scrotal Circumference EBV is now available for Limousin Cattle Read more...

Improving livestock - New Publication

RuSource - the rural information network (an Arthur Rank Centre project) - have summarised a Post Note from the Parliamentary Office of Science & Technology. Read more...

Shropshire ram joins Ram Linkage Programme

A new Shropshire Ram joins EBLEX Ram Linkage Programme

Semen is now available from Morley Malik.
Read more...

Utilising Maternal Trait EBVs in Beef Breeding Programmes

SAC have produced a note explaining how Maternal Trait EBVs can be utilised. Click here for the latest technical information
Read more...

Recorded Rams dominate Texel Sales

Recorded rams have dominated the Welsh and Scottish National Texel Ram Sales - with the winners of both the Performance Recorded Classes going on to take the Championships with Top 5% Indexes.
Read more...

News from Drinkstone Open Day - July 2011

Identifying rams that seriously cut the mustard is key to achieving a profitable flock, together with a formula for sustainable production. These were the take home messages at Drinkstone Open Day. Read more...

Ram Sale Reports - July 2011

High EBV breeding stock dominated early rams sales in June and July.
Hampshire Down Ram Sale Report 2011
Charollais Ram Sale Report 2011

Read more...

Sheep breeding project launch in Scotland

Producers were reminded about the financial benefits of using High EBV rams at the launch of a new QMS Sheep Trial.

Read the press reports. Read more...

New Factsheet for Sheep Sale Cards

A new factsheet has been written explaining how Sheepbreeder members can use three and seven trait sale cards to promote their breeding stock.

A copy can be downloaded here Read more...

Genome wide scanning in beef cattle

Great strides have made in the study of molecular genetics. In a relatively short space of time information about an animal’s genetic make up will be used to enhance traditional estimates of breeding value. Read more...

New Factsheet on Lambing Ease EBVs

The recording of lambing ease scores is a routine part of the Texel Birth Notification process and EBVs are now available for this economically important trait. Read more...

EBLEX Questionnaire

EBLEX wrote to a cross section of pedigree sheep breeders to ask them about their ram production systems. The questionnaire was designed to find out more about their management systems, particularly when it came to feeding regimes. Read more...

Beefbreeder article published in "Cattle Breeder"

Beefbreeder Recording article published in "Cattle Breeder" - Spring 2011. The article can be downloaded here

For more information about this publication contact info@shepherdpublishing.co.uk Read more...

New Maternal Index for Poll Dorset and Dorset Horn breeders

Poll Dorset and Dorset Horn breeders now have a better tool to help identify their most profitable sheep thanks to a new Signet Maternal Breeding Index. Read more...

New Bluefaced Leicester leaflet available

A new Bluefaced Leicester leafet can be downloaded here

Read more...

Livestock Northwest hear breeding message

"Genetic improvement in beef and sheep breeding isn't new, but how you approach your breeding decisions could be." this was the message by EBLEX Breeding Specialist Carol Davis Read more...

Growth rate pays in Top Meatlinc Flock

The Meatlinc breed winners of the EBLEX Improved Flock Awards for 2011 are Edward and Richard Vines, who farm 180ha (440 acres) near Ross on Wye in Herefordshire. Read more...

New Docility EBV for Limousin

A new breeding measure that gauges a beef animal’s calmness is to be used in the UK for the first time with Limousin cattle. Read more...

Poll Dorset Sire Reference Scheme Ram Selection Day

Information and photos are now available from the Poll Dorset Centurion Breeders Group ram selection day.
Read more...

FAQ's Docility EBVs in Limousin Cattle

Information relating to the new Docility EBV Read more...

New Factsheet - Harnessing molecular genetics

An update for breeders considering using molecular genetics Read more...

New Highland Cattle Leaflet

EBLEX Better Returns and Signet Breeding Services have produced a new leaflet for Highland Cattle Breeders.

Read more...

New report: The Impact of Generation Interval (Feb 2011)

Pedigree breeders often ask how they can make faster genetic progress within their flocks. This paper explains how generation interval can be manipulated to increase rates of genetic gain. Read more...

Advice on using Accuracy Values in Ram Selection

A new factsheet highlights how breeders should interpete accuracy values when selecting breeding rams. Read more...

New Factsheet Launched: Ultrasound scanning beef cattle

A new factsheet has been produced to show cattle breeders how to make the most use of the ultrasound scanning service. Read more...

Stirling Bull Sale Report

Good demand for High Beef Value Signet Recorded Limousin bulls at the Stirling bull sale Read more...