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For information on 1998 to 2000 results, click hereReport 2009
Blue Sires 10th year was celebrated with another good improvement in genetic merit despite losing one of the top flocks when the Churchbridge Flock was sold. The high genetic achievement of that flock has been dispersed across England with the remaining breeders taking full advantage; this has maintained Blue Sires gene pool with which to continue development.
The 2009 Blue Sires Top Tup Rumwell Foremost JER 08078 - was bred by Janet Richardson, and was sold to a breeder in Germany.This ram stood 1st in the shearling ram class at the Royal Show 2009.
In the photo he is shown with 2 ram lambs who were exported with him. Foremost was sired by Rumwell Diamond.
rams exported from England to Germany in October 2009
Robin Johnson was the subject of a very good article in the Yorkshire Post which showed the benefits of breeding science in simple terms and resulted in much interest in his flock.Yorkshire Post interview with Robin Johnson
Robin's flock ewes & ram in December 2009
Shows
The high genetic merit of Blue Sires stock is continuing to be apparent in the Show Ring. Once again the Blue Sires breeding was dominant at the Royal Show with the Breed Champion, male and female Breed Champions, reserve male and female and Reserve Champion in the Interbreed Pairs all with Blue Sires provenance.
There were further successes with Supreme Champion at Thame and Oxfordshire, Reserve Supreme at Bucks, AOC Champion at Kent and breed Champion at North Yorks and at Masham shows.
Once again Julie Bury won the Bleu du Maine Society flock competition, this time by a large margin. She had also won in 2008.
Julie's Champion eweSales
2009 has been a successful year for sales, both private and commercial. Ewes have been snapped up and an increased number of rams have been sold particularly those with high genetic index; this has been reflected in increased prices. Perhaps the recession coupled with a temporary improvement in farming income has at last given farmers the encouragement to buy sheep with high genetic merit to improve their farming efficiency.Janet Richardson has sold 3 high index rams to Germany including the 2009 Blue Sires Top Tup; there are indications that more may be required since they have asked to visit Blue Sires flocks after the 2010 lambing and require details of more high index sheep both ewes and rams.
Discussions are also at an advanced stage with a US Partnership called BLUE ALLIANCE PRIME LAMB. They already are using Blue-faced Leicesters but now want high index Bleu du Maine rams to extend their breeding strategy. Blue Sires semen is already available in the UK but more will be taken to provide a wider gene pool. It is likely that they will ultimately wish to be involved in the Signet programme since they obviously believe in the commercial advantage of genetic development.
Semen Sales
The following semen is for sale.
Please contact the members direct for further information
Julie Bury: Hastings Viper JH.V537 and Churchbridge Agamemnon CHB.AA171
phone: 01865 300339
Robin Johnson: Winholme Viking AP.V10
phone: 01325 378212
Maurice Jones: Churchbridge Warrior CHB.W11
phone: 01769 5608
Top Stock Sires 2009
& EBV (kg)
& EBV(mm)
& EBV (mm)
index
6.24
2.98
0.10
5.09
2.49
-0.16
4.71
2.89
0.42
5.82
3.55
1.17
3.04
1.98
0.08
Some of the top ram lambs have been sired by these stock rams:
Top Ram Lambs 2009
& EBV (kg)
& EBV(mm)
& EBV (mm)
index
6.74
3.34
0.79
6.55
3.09
0.64
3.64
2.26
-0.3271
3.56
Maurice Jones, Hon Chairman Blue Sires
14 November 2009