Abstract

The Alliance Central Progeny Test (CPT) was established in 2001 with the aims of improving the carcass dollar value of sires under the Alliance grading system and establishing links among ram breeders so Alliance can identify the best rams for their clients. In the 2002/2003 season 22 terminal sires from nine different breeds were evaluated. Each ram was mated to 30 ewes at the AgResearch Woodlands research farm. Progeny numbers for each ram ranged from 13-46. Initial early results showed that breeding values for weaning weight were well spread among sires (range over 2.5 kg) indicating there were genetic differences among sires used. Lambs were slaughtered in four slaughter groups between December 16th , 2002 and March 11th , 2003. Analyses from the full data set will be available from May 2003. The next cycle of the Alliance CPT begins with mating in April, 2003, with an emphasis on dual-purpose sires.

AW, Campbell, K Knowler, M Behrent, NB Jopson, G Cruickshank, JC McEwan, and T Wilson

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Volume 63, Queenstown, 197-200, 2003