just seen this on Jimmie's Farm!

Re: just seen this on Jimmie's Farm!

Louise B — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 21:16:13 GMT

I didn't see the program. But it was my ex-work colleagues at SAC that originally carried out the work that led to this. The CT scanner does seem to be a useful way of determining which sheep have the more desireable body composition (i.e. lean meat). The idea is that only the rams that have the more desireable genetic profile are bred from. Its another tool to enable selective breeding. What, for me, would be the more interesting question is, if we breed for low body fat, very lean, sheep will they be more susceptible to cold stress?

Re: just seen this on Jimmie's Farm!

Gillian Mostyn — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 14:22:51 GMT

[quote user="Sal (the 1st) Holesworth VN CMH Chyp (M)PNLP"]nuking a rams 'nads[/quote]

Re: just seen this on Jimmie's Farm!

Sal the 1st — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 13:44:20 GMT

I watched this too. One of the reasons for scanning the rams was to pick the rams carrying the least fat so that in time they could selectively breed to get leaner lambs...... so...

putting it bluntly how does nuking a rams 'nads help the breeding programme?

Curious?

Re: just seen this on Jimmie's Farm!

Mac Feather — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 13:29:15 GMT

Back fat scanning has been carried out for a while but thats a case of running the animals through a crush/race to have that done.

Didnt see this programme- will need to have a look on iplayer.

Not really a surprise to me that the farmer was as good as the machine to be honest!

Re: just seen this on Jimmie's Farm!

Nick Shackleton — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 20:56:27 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

I've just seen that too - I was also amazed. But I don't think the ram was particularly stressed by it. Pointless though - he showed that he was good as the machine at judging quality!!

[/quote]

therefore a pointless, expensive and unethical procedure. Basically a waste of everyones time and money!

Re: just seen this on Jimmie's Farm!

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 20:55:22 GMT

I've just seen that too - I was also amazed. But I don't think the ram was particularly stressed by it. Pointless though - he showed that he was good as the machine at judging quality!!