No 4. Sheep Performance Recording in New Zealand. History - Group Breeding Schemes

By Dr Clive Dalton

 Identifying top ewes in large populations – Group Breeding Schemes

The larger the population - the greater the scope for selection

  Things really started to develop as interest grew in recording commercial ewes with Sheeplan, and practical ways of doing this got smarter.  It became obvious that there was a massive selection potential in large commercial flocks whether on the one farm, or in flocks on smaller properties where breeders could co-operate in groups.  In contrast, traditional stud flocks were small and just about every male lamb ended up being sold as a sire.

The concept of ‘Group Breeding Schemes’ (GBS) had arrived and took off like a rocket, driven by Prof Rae at Massey who helped the first groups to get going. Again Tony Parker and Peter Jackson were major driving forces the formation of the first group -  the Romney Development Group (RDG).

It was a very simple concept.  Breeders screened their flocks for two-tooth ewes with twins, and contributed these to a ‘nucleus’ flock on one of the member’s farms who had the facilities and high recording standards to run it. Then in return under agreed rules, contributors got one ram back from the nucleus for every five ewes contributed.  There was an agreed system of ram ‘picking order’ and price which was all done on a special day with an annual meetings which were hotbeds of enthusiasm about sheep breeding and improvement.

 

The diagram to illustrate the principle of ewes in and rams out of the central flock

Group Breeding Schemes were set up in the main breeds throughout New Zealand, and when reported at world conferences overseas, the concept generated enormous interest with many breeders coming to New Zealand to see what went on.

We scientists at Whatawhata were instrumental in setting up the Lands & Survey Group Breeding Scheme on blocks around Rotorua (population of 180,000 ewes) with the nucleus flock being run at Waihora, and it was a regular venue for overseas visitors.

We also got involved with the Auckland Romney Development Group (ARDG) and the Perendale Genetic Development (PGD). MAF SBOs were heavily involved in other schemes, such as Lindsay Galloway in Christchurch who drove the North Canterbury Corriedale GBS and he started and ran on in the Chatham Islands for Romney breeders which is still having measurable results.

The ARDG were the prime movers in breeding for resistance to Facial Eczema (FE), as the disease was a major problem for all their group members’ flocks.  The late Colin Southey was the MAF SBO at Pukekohe and drove this work with a passion.  He was greatly supported by Andy Dalton who was the general FAO at Pukekohe at the time and they covered the west coast area from Port Waikato down to Raglan.  In bad years in those days, farmers would regularly lose 40% of their hoggets with FE, so they didn’t need motivation!

If Colin hadn’t made frequent trips to Ruakura which I remember well as we always chatted, and pestered Neil Towers and Barry Smith to get their lab work of dosing rams with the fungal toxin (sporidesmin), out into the field to help farmers, millions more sheep would have suffered and died a terrible death. 

A memorable day for me was when during an international sheep breeding conference in New Zealand, I accompanied Dr Charlie Smith and Dr Cradoch Roberts from the Animal Breeding Research Organisation in Edinburgh, and my University of Wales Ph.D. supervisor Gwyn Lloyd Williams from Bangor to see the work at Waihora.  Farm manager Peter Roberts was pleased to meet Cradoch who was an ex-Bangor fluent Welsh-speaking Roberts.

The concept went worldwide

A group was started in North Wales with Welsh Mountain Sheep and that’s why G.L. Williams came to see how things were done.  From early days, many Corriedale sheep were exported to Chile and the Falklands, and some of our SBOs were heavily involved in giving advice from afar.   In Alan Marshall’s case, visiting regularly to provide hands-on assistance – which he continues today.  Alan says that there’s now plenty of evidence that the old genetic theories we preached have clearly worked in practice!

Political genetics

After my involvement with Sheeplan, and especially the Lands & Survey Romney and Angus breeding schemes, I soon realised that there was a new branch of genetics to add to Mendelian genetics, population genetics, evolutionary genetics and others –I called it ‘political genetics’.  The basic unwritten rules dictated what could be said and done to avoid upsetting breeders, stud stock managers and their organisations - who seemed to claim a God-like status.

I well remember being invited to meet with Dalgety’s seniour stud stock manager (Tim Russell) and his team in their Victoria Street office in Hamilton about my role (as a MAF public servant) in assisting Rotorua Lands & Survey to breed Angus bulls.  I thought it was to talk genetics, but Tim made it very clear that they wanted to know why I was recommending that bulls should be put up for public auction, in competition with the ‘private sector’ (i.e. Dalgetys), so they missed out on their 13% commission.

Tim didn’t like my point that as the whole project had been paid for by taxpayers’ money – and we were ‘public servants’, the blocks around Taupo and any commercial farmer who had the money should have every right to the bulls. Tim’s view was that ‘the government’ should not be in the business of competing with private business, which is a valid point – and still an issue today with Landcorp.

The ram story was even worse, as the Romney Society went ballistic when they learned of the first sale of rams from Waihora to commercial sheep farmers.

Memories from Peter Jackson - Piquet Hill Romneys

I well remember spending a day with Clive Dalton, Graeme Hight, and Bob Black at Waihora, checking the soundness of  rams to be used as sires in the recorded screened (elite) Waihora  Flock.

Some days later I received a phone call from Selwyn Shannon, on behalf of the Romney Breed Society inquiring as to my ability or authority to advise these MAF “scientists”, considering I was not an official judge of the Romney Society, and that I had no authority as a registered Romney breeder, to advise on the finer points of the Romney, and that the Minister of Agriculture had been advised of the concern that the Romney Breed Society had over this matter.

I well remember Clive Dalton and Graeme Hight coming out to Te Akau to look at a top ram from G Bendall, NZ Romney Development Group, which had broken out with Facial Eczema. They suggested I contact a MAF Advisory Officer in Pukekohe (Colin Southey) re testing for F.E. tolerance on hot F.E. paddocks to identify sires which were showing some tolerance to F.E.  This was the beginning of a whole new era in sheep breeding in hard Raglan hill country.

NZ Sheep Breeding - History of Perendale Genetic Development (PGD) Breeding Group

Perendale Genetic Development (PGD)

By Dr Clive Dalton

Introduction
In the 1970s, the concept of Group Breeding was developed and promoted by Professor Al Rae at Massey University, and was carried on by his students who went farming and into farm advisory roles within New Zealand. Groups were started within the Romney, Coopworth and Perendale breeds and the story below is about the Perendale group called 'Perendale Genetic Development' or PGD.

As a scientist at the NZ Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Whatawhata Hill Country Research Station at the time, I had a lot to do with PGD members, and I believe it's important to record a part of their history. The brochure they produced below certainly shook up the established stud breeding world. Garth Cumberland was a major driving force in this promotion.

Words from promotional Brochure
produced by PGD in the 1970s:




Having increased production from every acre of land by using modern techniques, farmers are now seeking increased production from each individual animal. Geneticists have shown that flock sires bred by traditional stud lines are in many cases genetically inferior to the ewes with which they are being mated. Breeding Groups are the modern method of flock improvement.

• PGD is a Perendale Group
• PGD is soundly organised
• PGD plans vast improvements
• PGD is nationwide
  

The Perendale Genetic Development Breeding Group (PGD) is structured to encourage a large number of participating ram breeders to assemble, and scientifically test, their highest producing Perendale sheep in one environment.

By exploiting outstanding high fertility animals, PGD provides the most efficient known method of developing fertility, wool and other commercially important characteristics of Perendales.

Farmers who take advantage of PGD can be sure that the genetic and commercial merit of rams produced will improve every generation.

History
PGD was first planned by agricultural scientists. It was formally established in 1969 by eight progressive Perendale breeders. They made far-reaching plans and formed PGD into a limited liability company. They appointed Colin Chamberlin, one of New Zealand’s top Perendale breeders and judges to act as Flockmaster. He is responsible for direction and management of PGD’s Central Flock, where New Zealand’s best Perendale ewes are tested. His experience and skill in rearing sheep is reflected in the high standard already attained by the PGD Central Flock.

The group of farmers who planned PGD have now been joined by more top Perendale breeders. About 40,000 ewes are now being screened by PGD’s Central Flock.

Scientific and commercial advice is sought to assist the group to make the best decisions. Determination and objectivity which is exhibited by all PGD members, ensures that each generation of PGD Perendales will be genetically and so commercially, better than the previous one.

Initially PGD’s Central Flock has accepted only recorded stud Perendale ewes. These are the ewes with the best twinning and fertility performance from contributing flocks. Many registered ewes have in fact, not proved acceptable because of minor faults. Such is the standard of the breeding and excellence required by PGD and its Flockmaster.

However, scientific facts indicate that to maintain a high rate of improvement in PGD Perendales, the group must also screen and use the highest producing animals from New Zealand’s flocks of commercial sheep. Many highly productive and very attractive ewes are being found in this way. These sheep, after further testing and careful inspection for type, in members’ flocks, will allow PGD to raise its standards of production even higher.

These far-reaching, logical and simple procedures will ensure the successful achievement of the basic objectives of the PGD Group. The commercial and genetic merit of PGD Perendales must improve with each generation.

PGD ewes are bred under widely different conditions, and are tested under one environment. The sons of these ewes- rams of the top genetic merit – are dispersed throughout New Zealand.


MEMBERS
Foundation members

• David Carter, Waihou, RD, Ormondville (Waihau Stud)
• Colin Chamberlin, Rawhite Road, 1RD, Reporoa (Narborough Stud)
• Ken Cumberland, Garth Cumberland, Kettlewelldale, RD, Manurewa (Kettlewell stud)
• Neil McHardy, Aramoana, 1RD, Waipawa (Aramoana Stud)
• John Stovell, Willow Flat, Kotemaori, Hawkes Bay (Ren 38 Stud)
• David Baker, Cave, South Canterbury (Kainga Stud)
• Malcolm Udy, Pearce Shannon, 324 College Street, Palmerston North (Karioi Stud)
• Derek Anderson, Hundalee, RD, Parnassus (Mt. Guardian Stud).
  

Associate members

• Ness Bjerring, Seaview, RD1, Waihi (Seaview Stud)
• Chris Jury, Tikorangi, RD 43, Waitara (Green Acres Stud)
• Charlie Nairn, RD1, Waipawa (Vigour Stud)
• Tony Vallance, Te Kanuka, Masterton (Te Kanuka Stud)
• Peter Williams, Mamaku, PB, Masterton
• Gough Smith, Earlyhurst, Masterton (Earlyhurst Stud)
• David Law, Te Rohenga, Box 48, Shannon
• Kevin Nesdale, Moorfield, RD 7, Kimbolton (Moorfield Stud)
• Duncan Menzies, Mangamingi, RD 19, Eltham (Rannoch Stud)

What happened to the PGD sheep
Report from Charles Nairn - 2010

In 1988 the Central Flock was sent to me at Omakere to manage, with nine members contributing (from memory). After a few years Robin Hilson and one other wanted their sheep out - which was arranged.

By 2002 there were only five active members, with most having left their ewes in the Central Flock. It was agreed to cease operation and so members were offered their share of stock or to sell the remaining stock and take a share of the proceeds. Three members took their share in stock and the rest agreed to the sale.

At the sale Graeme Maher (a ram buyer) bought 85 ewes out of the 120 on offer and I bought the 72 ewe lambs that were up for sale. The agreement required me to present the group with 72 2-tooths each year, the surplus becoming mine as of right.

Graeme Maher sent his ewes to me and Duncan Menzies sent me 120 of his ewes and I added 170 from my stud and the whole lot are now run as one stud under the name C2C (Short for Coast to Coast) as Duncan reckoned we spanned the North Island.

I send half the ram lambs to Duncan at weaning, and he grows them on for sale in Taranaki, with the computer linking the two groups so that we can bring back the best rams to the stud.

Sheep Farm Husbandry - NZ Breeding history, Flock recording, Group breeding

Sheep, husbandry, breeding, breed structure, NZ flock recording, cooperation among breeders, group breeding schemes

By Dr Clive Dalton

Traditional breed structure
When new breeds were established in their countries of origin, usually from merging other breeds, breeders formed breed societies and breed associations to share their livestock and common interests. These breeders had the best animals and they became the source of genes for commercial farmers.

So traditionally a triangular structure developed, with the stud breeders in the apex and the commercial farmers who bought their stock (mainly rams) in the base. Breeders in the middle were multipliers who bought the top genes, multiplied them to eventually sell to the commercial farmers, and make a profit on the way. The multipliers gained status by having the top genes even if they did not breed them.

Gene flow
The flow of genes was always one way down from apex to base, and reverse flow was not allowed. This was because the animals – no matter how good they were in the commercial flocks in the base, were not allowed to be “registered” in the breed associations’ “stud books”. So commercial farmers could not breed rams or ewes for sale because of concern about lack of proof of “breed purity”. The traditional dogma said that only registered sheep had good genes, and any others had no guarantee of this.

The theory said that by registering sheep in a studbook, breeders kept control of the quality of the stock that were then used to improve the rest of the population – i.e. the commercial flocks in the country. This theory was certainly sound in the days of Thomas Bakewell – the “Great Improver” in the mid 1700s, as he did produce the best animals that improved and revolutionised British livestock farming.

So this system went around the globe, and Britain became the “stud farm of the world” where breeders were urged to go back and renew the “pure” genes that were inevitably lost in their own countries. In New Zealand the practice died in sheep quicker than in cattle, for even as late as 1970 breeders were still going to Perth to buy Aberdeen Angus bulls at enormous cost, bred in a stud of half a dozen cows. It was a wonderful marketing job by the UK stud breeders.

This system may have served the needs of New Zealand breeders into the early 1900s, but became an enormous brake on progress when you tried to apply the principles of population genetics. These came in when statistics and maths were applied to animal breeding by animal geneticists like J.L Lush and C.E. Terrill in America and by A.L Rae in New Zealand in the 1940s and 1950s.

Flock recording in NZ
With Rae’s stimulation, a sheep breeding revolution started in New Zealand in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It started with the setting up of the National Flock Recording Scheme (NFRS) in 1967 (again with Rae’s leadership), to offer a recording service to stud breeders or any others interested who wanted to record performance data like lambing percentage, live weights and fleece weights. Up to that time only pedigrees were officially recorded with all other emphasis on physical traits required by the breed organisation. In the front of each flock book was a long and detailed description of what the ideal animal should look like of that particular breed.

Coopworth & Perendale
The development of the Coopworth at Lincoln College, and the Perendale at Massey University in the 1950s and their rapid expansion were also great drivers of the NFRS. Indeed the Coopworth Society made it mandatory for all stud breeders to be on the NFRS, and they stimulated massive progress in the attitudes of other breeds.

The revolution came mainly from commercial sheep breeders who found innovative ways to tag lambs, and record large numbers of sheep in their own commercial flocks to identify top sheep, and to have their data processed by the NFRS. They were all desperate to speed up flock improvement, and this often started by catching and tagging two-tooth ewes that produced twins. Both the ewe and her ewe lambs were tagged as future replacements.

Rams from unregistered flocks
As these farmers kept on recording, they started to keep rams from their “elite” ewes and were amazed at the quality of the rams produced. They did not deny that these identified top sheep had got their genes from their traditional stud breeders – and were more than a bit aggrieved that they could not register them by the breed society or association. There were many heated discussions over this, as the only way you could get non-registered sheep into the stud book at that time was by grading up which could take 10-12 years if things went according to plan.

These breeders then got up enough courage to actually use their own rams – and of course didn’t need to buy rams as many from their traditional stud ram supplier. So the ram buyer missed out on income, the breed society missed out on registration fees, and the stock and station companies missed out on their commission from arranging sales. Political pressure was even brought to bear to stop this state of affairs and certainly curb the activities of certain government scientists (including the author) who were seen to be encouraging these developments. These were stimulating times for animal geneticists and I invented a new branch of genetics – “political genetics”!

Rams for sale
Things got worse (or better depending on your viewpoint) when these commercial breeders became ram sellers. They sold rams to fellow sheep farmers who wanted sheep that had been selected on performance, in the rugged commercial conditions where their offspring were to live and perform, and not in small studs on land that should have been running dairy cows.

In the large commercial flocks, intense selection pressure was being applied to ram selection because there were so many animals to choose from. It really was survival of the fittest, and was in total contrast to the traditional small stud flocks of often under 100 ewes, where a very high proportion of rams born were saved by assisting their dams to lamb, and which were sold as stud sires often passing on these traits.

This drive to select sheep from larger populations was also driven by the massive move to “easy-care” lambing to reduce costs by farmers who were weary of pulling lambs out of wool-blind ewes. They found that the stud breeders were not changing their objectives fast enough to keep up with the commercial realities of the time.

Group breeding schemes
Then finding high-performance sheep in commercial flocks triggered another part of the revolution – the setting up of Group Breeding Schemes by some innovative farmers again guided by A.L Rae of Massey University. Some of the farmers were Rae’s former students and at one time there were at least a dozen active group breeding schemes operating.

Here commercial breeders identified their top ewes (usually two-tooths) on their own farms and contributed them to a central flock usually on a group member’s farm for ease of recording. Rams bred in the nucleus then went back to be used on contributors’ farms at a ratio of 1 ram for 4 contributed two-tooths. If you wanted any more rams you paid for them. The nucleus-flock farmer was paid a management fee by the contributors for the extra work in recording.

This shook the stud industry to the core, and some of the small stud breeders went out of business. But others could see the benefits of more intense selection for economic traits to improve genetic gain that commercial farmers were screaming for to survive the very tight economic conditions of the 1970s and 1980s. The stud industry emerged from the British empire’s Victorian past and in the mid 1980s saw the need for change – especially when farm subsidies disappeared overnight in 1984.

Breed societies today are vastly changed organisations. As well as offering full registration services for sheep, they also handle the performance recording needs of breeders and offer advice on all aspects of sheep breeding. They all eventually joined the revolution started by forward-looking commercial sheep farmers led by Prof. Al Rae at Massey and Prof. Ian Coop at Lincoln.

WARNING: History is a dangerous business and is littered with examples of bias and conjecture, because it’s inevitably one person’s view. Like most things on this website (especially the bits written by me!) comments are the author’s view based on my active involvement in the revolution.

Disclaimer
This material is provided in good faith for information purposes only, and the author does not accept any liability to any person for actions taken as a result of the information or advice (or the use of such information or advice) provided in these pages.