DNA Gene Markers

Myomax

A DNA test for a gene that increases carcase weight and lean meat yield with up to an extra 10% extra meat if 2 copies are present and 5% if one copy is present. It is our intention to work towards having all our sheep Myomax carriers as soon as possible. Our 2010 lamb crop had a number of single copy carriers and the first UK Suffolk carrying 2 copies of the Myomax gene.

Footrot Resistance

We routinely test our incoming stock sires for their resistance to footrot by using the Lincoln University Footrot resistance genemarker test

Cold Tolerance

Again we test incoming sires for the presence of the cold tolerance gene that is associated with increased survivability – a vital attribute for outdoor lambing

Wormstar

Our incoming Texels are coming from an organic flock where extensive use of the Wormstar Gene test has been made. This identifies animals that shed fewer eggs onto pasture and identifies animals that grow well in the presence of parasite challenge.