Ferg's thoughts: EID and replacement ewe selection

This week, we have another in our 'Ferg's thoughts' series. Dr Mark Ferguson talks us through the benefits of using EID and how it can help you make better decisions when selecting replacement ewes for your flock. Weaning weight, condition scores, wool traits, reproductive performance, birth litter size ... The list of things you can record to an EID is endless. To help reduce environmental 'noise', Mark recommends separating twins from singles when making replacement selections, so you're not judging twins against singles. This requires lambing twins and singles separately, and keeping them that way until marking/docking, so that you can identify them with tags (ideally EID). There are plenty of other benefits of having EID, such as being able to mix up mobs and separate them again easily at any point. 'You don't have to worry about a dot on their back fading or being shorn off. Once it's on the EID, it's there forever.' Mark also discusses Genesmith, technology we have been developing to match lamb to dam at a commercial scale, without the need for expensive DNA or collars. Head Shepherd is brought to you by neXtgen Agri International Limited. We help livestock farmers get the most out of the genetics they farm with. Get in touch with us if you would like to hear more about how we can help you do what you do best: [email protected]. Thanks to our sponsors at MSD Animal Health and Allflex, Heiniger Australia and New Zealand, and ProWay Livestock Equipment. Please consider them when making product choices, as they are instrumental in enabling us to bring you this podcast each week. Check out the MSD range HERE Check out Allflex products HERE Check out Heiniger's product range HERE Check out ProWay's product range HERE