GEP

DSANA’s Genetic Evaluation Program (formerly the PIP - Production Improvement Program) is a new tool that sheep’s milk producers in North America can use to make more informed decisions in their breeding programs. Taking the guess work out of choosing replacement stock can have a dramatic effect on a farm’s bottom line. Joining the program also has the benefit of contributing to the quality of the entire dairy flock of North America. Our program coordinator will be happy to answer any questions you have about the program and will help you get started on building a better farm. Interested? Read on and contact us with questions.

Why Do We Need The Genetic Evaluation Program?

The growth of the dairy sheep industry in North America has been greatly hampered by the low level of milk production from most of the dairy stock available. The majority of North American dairy sheep producers currently do not produce enough milk to break even with the cost of production.  The greatest expenses in dairy sheep production are feed and labor, so increasing the milk yield produced per ewe and improving milk components can maximize the marginal returns in dairy sheep production. Recent importation of semen from Europe has allowed the introduction of improved genetic stock and significantly higher producing ewes. By taking advantage of these improved European genetics and by implementing a system of data collection and analysis, producers can see marked increases in the productivity and profitability of their flock. DSANA’s Genetic Evaluation Program uses detailed data collection, record-keeping and statistical analysis to enable producers to objectively assess their flock and make informed decisions on breeding and flock development.

At DSANA’s 2022 Virtual Symposium Lynn Swanson of Glendale Shepherd Farm shared her experience with the Production Improvement Program. You can watch Lynn’s presentation below.

How Does the Genetic Evaluation Program Work?

As part of this program, DSANA facilitates the use of Rocky Mountain DHI in Utah for component and SCC analysis, and GenOvis, a livestock genetic evaluation program in Quebec, which generates estimated breeding values (EBVs) from collated milk production and component data. Producers participating in DSANA’s GEP receive EBVs on milk yield, component yield, SCC, and persistency.

Throughout the production season participating farms collect the following data from their flock: individual animal identification, date of birth, breed, and pedigree; lambing data; reproduction traits; milk yield, and milk quality (fat, protein, somatic cell count, etc). Per-ewe milk production is metered monthly (minimum of 4 metering events per season). Milk samples are collected on metering days and sent to Rocky Mountain DHI for component analysis. Genovis collates the data and generate EBVs for each flock. These data can then be used to select a breeding protocol for each specific participating herd based on their cull rates, need for replacements, and EBVs.

Questions? Please contact our program co-ordinator, Matt Gelbwaks, pip@dsana.org

Interested? Learn more about enrolling your farm and your animals:

Farm Enrollment

Animal Enrollment

Want to learn more about EBV values and how farms participate in the program? Check out the document our Program Co-ordinator wrote below and watch our 2024 Webinar on Using Estimated Breeding Values for Breeding and Selection.

Using Estimated Breeding Values for Breeding and Selection