Carcass trait phenotype feedback for genomic selection in sheep

Only around half of UK-produced lambs meet target conformation and fat quality specifications

resulting in waste at the farm and processor levels. This livestock genomics project addresses key issues

in primary livestock production by collecting, analysing, and exploiting state-of-the art genomic and new

phenotypic data from meat sheep on hard to measure (HTM) traits, combining carcass and disease for

sustainable sheep improvement. New visual image assessments (VIA) of post-mortem lamb carcass

quality, and novel, in-line meat hygiene records on individuals will be linked to genome-screening

technology to identify superior bloodlines and genomic regions that are more productive and also more

resistant to economically-important disease traits. This allows greater productivity to be acheived

without compromising health and welfare, and explores the best method to deliver genomic solutions

for increases in productivity and efficiency in tandem with improvements in animal health.