RED DEER, Alta. (Staff) – Agriculture Canada has turned over the duty of keeping sheep records to the Canadian Sheep Federation.
The service will be known as the Sheep Information Unit and will be managed by Tig Shafto in Ottawa. The federal government has provided $1.5 million in start-up funds.
One of the unit’s first tasks will be to make genetic and performance record keeping easier and more understandable so it can be used as a management plan on the farm, said Shafto.
The unit plans to offer more help with calculating expected progeny differences which takes into account parents’ performance, assesses genetic performance and merit of individuals, as well as how they compare to other sheep.
Overall objectives are to increase the size of the national flock, adjust production to meet market demands, develop superior breeding stock, improve producer know-ledge and increase Canada’s international profile as a sheep producer.
