In the summer of 2023, a survey was done about sheep and goat breeders’ participation in various components of Canadian genetic improvement programs, including animal identification, registration, performance recording, use of on-farm management software, and genetic evaluation. In total there were 252 surveys completed. Summaries of the responses are presented separately for meat sheep, meat goats and dairy goats.
The survey was done as part of a project to integrate genetic services across multiple species. This 3-year project is entitled “National integrated genetic services for breeders across multiple species in Canada”. Participants in the project include the Canadian Sheep Breeders Association, the Canadian Goat Society, the Canadian Meat Goat Association, the Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock (CGIL) at the University of Guelph, the Canadian Centre for Swine Improvement (CCSI), Le Centre d’expertise en production ovine du Québec (CEPOQ), Ontario Sheep Farmers (OSF), the Canadian Livestock Records Corporation (CLRC), AgSights, EweManage and Lactanet. This project has been funded in part by the Government of Canada under Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Canadian Agricultural Strategic Priorities Program. The partners in the project recognize that only a small percentage of sheep and goat producers participate in the available genetic improvement programs. This survey helped to beter understand what producers are currently doing and potential ways to increase the level of participation.
Access to the full results of the survey HERE.
