New semen sexing technology available
Ram Testing Ireland, the company based in Creeslough, Co Donegal, has recently taken on the distribution rights of the Emlab Genetics semen sexing agent for Ireland and the UK. The deal covers the sheep and goat industry and will see Ram Testing Ireland offer a semen sexing agent, 
which owner John McGee (pictured, left) says will boost the percentage of male or female progeny born.
“The semen sexing agent boosts the percentage of male or female offspring born in a flock to 70% to 80% and also delivers an increase in conception rates of 5% to 15%. The agents are suitable for cervical AI and laparoscopic AI and for use with fresh or frozen semen.”
Breeders can select from Sheepplus to increase the number of female progeny and Ramplus to increase male progeny while goat terminology is Nannyplus and Billyplus.
John says: “With the Sheepplus or Nannyplus, it works by accelerating the motility of the X-chromosome (ie female) bearing sperm, and by decelerating the motility of the Y-chromosome (ie male) bearing sperm. After insemination, the sperm are sorted in the reproductive tract of the dam. The result is more ova (egg cells) fertilised by the X-chromosome bearing sperm increasing the number of females born.”
According to John, the technology can hugely benefit breeding decisions with farmers able to increase the percentage of females born if targeting replacement females for example or males born if aiming to focus on the ram breeding market.
“It will complement our offering to farmers and help producers make breeding decisions with greater accuracy. For example, Wicklow Cheviot breeder Daniel O’Mullan, Rasharkin, used Sheepplus in 2015 with the ewes being artificially inseminated by Peter Thompson of Knockanboy Veterinary Clinic. Daniel reports that in his 2016 crop of lambs, he had 70% ewe lambs with the ewes having scanned at 1.8 lambs per ewe, so you can quickly see the opportunities available.”
The sexing agents will be available for purchase through www.ramtesting.net and will be distributed to sheep and goat breeders across Ireland and the UK ahead of the upcoming breeding season.
Typical costs are €3 to €5 per ewe depending on the amount purchased while additional charges depend on delivery requirements.
For further information, see the website or call John on 087-228 5654.
Milford Sheep Breeders Association
The Milford breed of sheep originates from Milford and the surrounding area of Co Donegal. The exact origin of the breed is unknown with breeders explaining that it stemmed from crossing Donegal-type Scottish Blackface ewes with Border Leicester and Cheviot breeding. It is thought the first sheep were bred over 50 years ago with the breed type remaining constant in recent years.
The characteristic Milford ewe is large-framed with a distinctive speckled head and is described as possessing good maternal attributes and being very prolific with scanning rates of two lambs and over common for the breed.
The breed has witnessed a revival in interest, which has been harnessed into the formation of the Milford Sheep Breeders Association. With 24 breeders the group held their first sale last September, which has added extra optimism according to breeder Dwayne Shiels.
“We had a better response than we could have ever expected with many other breeders from Roscommon, Leitrim and Sligo attending, as well as commercial farmers looking to try out the breed. Ewe lambs sold from €130 to €140 with the prizewinners selling from €170 to €218. There were a few pens of hoggets and these sold from €180 to €220 with a top price of €238,’’ Shiels says.
Breeding rams ranged from €200 to €450 and a top of €970. A show and sale of ewes and rams takes place on Monday 4 September in Milford mart. For further details contact Dwayne on 086-7315358 or mart manager John Stewart on 087-1277884.
A mark that lasts
Accurate identification of sheep is vital for numerous tasks. Mayo students Sarah and Mary Murphy’s handheld gun for applying marking fluid to sheep was built on this concept. Sarah says that the gun allows for much faster application of marking fluid with scope to apply a much clearer mark. The marking fluid cartridge fits into the gun and one of two application nozzles can be used to apply it. The first nozzle is designed to apply the fluid deep into the wool allowing the fluid to grow out with the wool and giving a longer life. The second is a flat-head nozzle that allows an even-like line to be applied, similar to that used in many hill flocks.
The cost of a gun and cartridge is €60, while replacement cartridges (red, blue, green, orange and purple) cost €12 and application nozzles cost €5 each. See makeamarkirl.webs.com, email makeamark15@gmail.com or phone 087-614 7067 for details
New mobile sheep shower unit
Northern Ireland sheep farmer Mark Kelly set about designing an alternative way of applying sheep dip over eight years ago. Using an old oil tank, spray nozzles and pump system, he designed a way of treating his own flock which quickly generated requests from neighbouring farmers to treat their sheep or manufacture similar units.
After a three-year research and development process, Mark and his sons Aidan, Patrick and Colm, have launched DipFast.
The sheep shower unit, manufactured by Harlequin Manufacturing, can be best described as an oil tank-like structure, made from moulded polyethylene, with a spray system that can apply dip through 22 jets at a flow rate of 140 litres per minute. The jets are located all around the structure with four located on the removable heavy-duty mesh floor.
It can hold six large-framed sheep or eight if shorn, with the unit closed at both ends by a transparent door. The base of the unit is heavy-duty galvanised steel, which allows the unit to be moved with a front loader or bale handler. It can also be manufactured mounted on a trailer for easy transport in fragmented holdings.
The unit has been independently tested by AFBI which reported excellent overall fleece saturation levels, no animal welfare issues and benefits in terms of health and safety of the operator with no product escaping from the unit during testing. The unit, which runs off a 240v pump and dual filtration system, costs €6,200 including VAT. For details see dipfast.com, email info@dipfast.com or call 07856 868136.
TGM EID stick reader
TGM Software Solutions Ltd has introduced a new EID stick reader, the Agrident AWL200. The reader combines EID tag reading with the capability to record management events such as linking ewes to lambs or rams, weight recording and health treatments. Information can also be pre-loaded to the AWL wand reader, which in turn will allow producers to identify and separate sheep based on alerts that have been set in PC software.
This can be used for example to separate sheep for breeding while the link software allows the user to download data in spreadsheet format on their computer. The AWL reader works with various Bluetooth-enabled scales and mobile printers. The company is offering an introductory package which includes free link software and a free mobile printer for those purchasing before the end of August. The cost of the AWL200 (free link software) is €520 plus VAT. For more details, phone TGM Software on 048 92 689681.
Agrihealth No Mate harness
Agrihealth’s latest sheep breeding accessory is the No Mate harness. Developed by New Zealand company Rurtec, the harness is designed as an alternative to vasectomisation of rams and will impede breeding when a fertile ram is run with females. If used with the company’s Mating Mark harness and crayon, ewes that have attempted to be mated will be marked. The harness, distributed by Agrihealth, has a recommended retail price of €60 and is available through agricultural co-ops, merchants and veterinary premises. If you cannot source a harness or want further details, call Agrihealth on 047 71800 or email info@agrihealth.ie. A video clip of the harness can be viewed online.