Monitoring and reviewing for continual improvement
MLA & AWI July 19, 2024
Markets and circumstances change, which can change what fit for farm, fit for market and fit for purpose mean. To ensure your breeding objective remains relevant and in tune with your profit drivers, monitor and review the performance of the flock on a regular basis.
Tracking progress against the breeding objective
Progress towards a breeding objective can be tracked by:
- visually assessing and scoring a sample of ewes and lambs annually
- keeping records of the proportion of the flock affected by conditions such as flystrike or internal parasites, and the extent to which they are affected
- using objective measures to track progress such as:
- recording the average ASBVs for the ram team every joining. Include new rams purchased and exclude rams no longer being used. RAMSELECT’s My Ram Team Manager is a useful tool here.
- undertaking a Flock Profile every four years if ASBVs are unavailable
- evaluating productivity and profitability data for your enterprise, including market feedback.
Source: AWI ClassiFly
When reviewing information, consider and try to quantify improvement in the ram team and the flock. Adjust the breeding program based on results but allow enough time for the genetic investment to take effect. Resist the temptation to make erratic changes and chase fads.
It takes a significant amount of time for today’s genetic decision to be seen or measured in the flock. It typically takes 5–10 years to achieve breeding targets. Some may be achieved sooner than others.
A five-year horizon is often used as this is typically how long it takes for the first lambs born based on genetic decisions to move through the flock and be culled based on age.
Now is the best time to start for most breeding targets; however, it is worth prioritising the breeding objectives and to maintain an appropriate level of focus on these. Chase the high-priority targets first and then refocus on the medium and lower priority when progress is made.
Reviewing the breeding objective
Don’t set and forget a breeding objective based on the assumption all things will remain equal. Markets and circumstances change and it’s important to stay abreast of what’s driving profit and respond accordingly. While breeding is a long-term activity and it’s not advisable to change direction regularly, it is important to adjust targets as progress and circumstances change.