Mumblebone rams are bred to combine early maturity with high fertility and exceptional wool quality.
Growth
Genetic differences in live weight reflect the growth potential of an animal.
Correlations of increased growth:
- Higher reproductive performance
- Marketable at earlier ages
- Higher fleece weight
- Higher lean meat yield
- Increased fiber diameter
- Mature weight goes up
- Lamb birth weight goes up
Muscle
Carcass muscling is reflected by eye muscle depth.
Correlations of increased eye muscle depth:
- Higher reproductive rate in ewes
- Higher worm resistance
- Higher lean meat yield
- Higher dressing percentage
- Shifts lean meat from the fore quarter to the loin
- Can reduce growth
- Can reduce eating quality
Fat
Carcass fatness is reflected by the depth of fat between the eye muscle and the skin. Fat increases the ability of breeding ewes to maintain weight and condition in “tough” times.
Correlations of increased fat cover:
- Improved reproductive rate
- CV of fiber diameter goes down
- Intramuscular fat (marbling) improves
- Eating quality improves
- Fleece weight can go down
Fleece weight
Correlations of increased fleece weight:
- Body weight and growth go up
- Staple length goes up
- Fat goes down
- Reproduction goes down
- Higher fiber diameter
- Increased wrinkle score
- CV of fiber diameter goes up
Staple length
Correlations of increased staple length:
- Fleece weight improves
- Higher growth
- Lower FDCV
- Less fleece rot
- Washing yield goes up
- Reproduction can go down
- Fiber diameter goes up
Yearling Coefficient Variation of Fiber Diameter
CVFD measures the amount of variation between individual wool fibers within a fleece.
Correlations of reducing FDCV:
- Muscling improves
- Fatness improves
- Higher growth
- Worm resistance improves
- Less fleece rot/body strike
- Higher staple strength
- Fleece weight can fall
Yearling worm egg count
Correlations of Worm resistance YWEC:
- Higher muscling
- Higher staple strength
Early breech wrinkle
Correlations of lower wrinkle EBWR:
- Higher reproduction
- Less fly strike
- Higher staple strength
- Lower fleece weight
Yearling fibre diameter
Correlations of lower fibre diameter YFD:
- Comfort factor improves
- Lower fleece weight
- Lower growth
- Lower body weight
- Lower staple length
- Lower staple strength
- FDCV goes up
Number lambs weaned
Correlations of Number of lambs NLW:
- Higher body weight
- Higher growth
- Lower wrinkle score
- Lower fleece weight
- Lower staple strength
Correlations can be managed by selecting a balance of traits that suit your flock.
Post Weaning Weight
Genetic differences in live weight reflect the growth potential of an animal
Correlations of increased growth:
- Higher reproductive performance
- Marketable at earlier ages
- Higher fleece weight
- Higher lean meat yield
- Increased fiber diameter
- Mature weight goes up
- Lamb birth weight goes up
Intra Muscular Fat
This is a trait we have only recently started selecting for with expected correlations to eating and tenderness
LDAG Late Dag
Correlations of lower Dag:
- Less fly strike
- More fleece wool
- Less crutching
EBCOV Early Breech Cover
Correlations of lower Breech Cover:
- Higher reproduction
- Less fly strike
- Keep an eye on fleece weight
