Innovis Rams St Bos Aug 2022

ST BOSWELLS RAM SALE Tuesday 23rd of August 2022

ST BOSWELLS MART Newton St Boswells, Melrose, TD6 0PP Viewing from 11am Sale Starts at 12pm Performance recorded meat and maternal rams.

Grass bred for efficient, high quality commercial sheep production.

On farm viewing available pre sale - see page 6 for details. www.innovis.org.uk

2022 SALE INFORMATION We are happy to return to St Boswells with the Harrison & Heatherington team.

More rams have been put forward this year in response to customer feedback wanting a greater selection of animals, so we hope that there will be plenty of rams to choose from. For sale related queries, please contact the mart office on 01835 822214 We are feeling the pinch of the dry weather with limited grass availability across our farms. We have introduced sugar beet nuts to some of our grower units but only at a low level (250g/head/day) whilst others have managed to carry through on just grass. We can assure you that this limited supplementation will have no impact whatsoever on your ram’s ability to perform and thrive off forage, it is simply a management decision in response to these extraordinary dry conditions.

Can’t make it to the sale?

Contact our sales team and they'll help you get the rams you need.

Claire Irving Northern England and Scottish Borders 07792 096999 ClaireIrving@innovis.org.uk Stuart Graham South West Scotland 07951 919136 StuartGraham@innovis.org.uk Karyn McArthur Central Belt and North Scotland 07854 759660 KarynMcarthur@innovis.org.uk INNOVIS LTD, PEITHYLL, CAPEL DEWI, ABERYSTWYTH, SY23 3HU 01970 828236 enquiries@innovis.org.uk

tell you how well a rams daughters

tell you how well

a rams lambs will

Positive values are above average

EBVs (estimated breeding values) for each trait, this is an estimate of the rams genetic merit that will pass on to its lambs.

EWE Trait EBVs

CARCASE Trait EBVs

The best of the best (top 25% and above) for lambing ease, lamb vigour, parasite resistance and longevity.

More stars the better.

the Index.

portant traits. The most important traits have the biggest influence on

INDEX combines the EBVs for im-

WHAT DO ALL THE NUMBERS MEAN?

DEVELOPED FOR COMMERCIAL SHEEP PRODUCERS

GENETIC GAIN TRANSLATES TO REAL DIFFERENCES ON FARM

Our own systems are designed especially for commercial farmers, allowing consistent genetic progress in traits that deliver profit in customers flocks.

Each Innovis sheep is evaluated using large, robust data sets recorded in flocks like yours...

PRE-SALE VIEWING We are giving our customers the opportunity to join us for a pre-sale viewing on

Thursday, 18th of August 11am - 2pm Springhall Farm, Kelso, TD5 7QA A selection of rams for St Boswells and Carlisle sales will be present.

All rams will be marked with their allocated lot numbers.

Orders can be taken on the day and rams purchased on your behalf on sale day. Please keep in mind that successful purchase of the ram is subject to the budget set and bids received on the day.

Take the opportunity to view the rams at your leisure in a safe, no pressure environment.

If you’d like to attend, please get in touch with Claire Irving to register your attendance:

ClaireIrving@innovis.org.uk 07792 096999

ABERFIELD

ABERFIELD SR

An improved alternative to traditional crossing sires.

Producing efficient, profitable, replacement ewes and well conformed, fast growing whether lambs.

Aberfield SR incorporates Lleyn genetics to the Aberfield, creating a ram suited to breed replacements in closed flocks, keeping ewe size at an optimum whilst maintaining prolificacy.

ABERTEX A Texel based ram, recorded for maternal and meat traits. With the ability to breed hardy crossbred, maternal daughters for future replacements as well as quality finished lambs.

HIGHLANDER 100% New Zealand Maternal Genetics, bred in the UK. Produces a productive and efficient ewe with a smaller mature weight - a low impact option for a regenerative system.

Highlander ewes scan up to 200% on a grass based system and rear their own body weight in lambs by weaning.

ABERMAX Derived from the best Texel and Charollais genetics to produce a powerful meat ram. Bred for prime lamb production, breeding programme focuses on lambing ease and lamb vigour, improved lamb growth and finished lamb conformation.

ABERBLACK Bred from specific Suffolk lines with introgression of other important traits from Texel and Charollais.

Breeding programme focused on rams that produce easy lambing, vigorous lambs that are very fast growing, and well conformed from forage diets. Ideal for outdoor lambing systems.

PRIMERA 100% New Zealand meat genetics, bred in the UK. Lambs are easy lambing, suited to a low labour, outdoor system.

Lambs are fast growing and easy finished on grass and forage.

For more information on Cheviot rams, visit www.innovis.org.uk/innovischeviot All rams are performance recorded and reared in commercial conditions, on grass and forage only.

Each animal is health screened for the main production limiting diseases and are certified with a negative Borders Disease PI status.

For more information about each breed, visit our website at www.innovis.org.uk or contact your sales adviser.

PRICING Our prices have been set as follows for each sale.

We aim to select a variety of breeds and grades for each sale but some grades may not always be available.

If you have a specific breed and grade you’d like, contact your sales adviser.

Maternal Rams Aberfield / Aberfield SR Abertex Highlander Innovis Cheviot

Elite

Select

Commercial

£900

£800

£700

Meat Rams

Elite

Select

Commercial

Abermax Primera Aberblack

£850

£750

£650

Teasers

£300

COMPARATIVE PRICING The continued work we do to improve genetics and health as well as investment in research and development is reflected in our prices. Although higher than industry averages, below we have demonstrated the value our rams can bring to your flock when longevity and mating capacity are taken in to consideration.

We have launched an online mating cost calculator which calculates the cost of getting your ewes in lamb to an Innovis ram vs other industry rams - try it at https://www.innovis.org.uk/cost-mating-calculator/ It is important to note that rams’ genetic potential has a huge impact on flock performance and is the real driver of profit, it’s benefit is not estimated here.

Working Life (years)

Total lambs reared per ram (135%)

Cost/ Lamb Produced

Total kg per ram (42Kg)

Cost per kg Liveweight

80

4

432

£1.97

18,144

4.7p/Kg LWt

50

3

203

£2.95

8,526

7p/Kg LWt

Sale Price

Ewes per Ram

Innovis Elite Ram

£850

Industry Crossing Sire

£600

£0.98 cheaper

2.3p cheaper

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE SELLING PROTOCOL Harrison and Hetherington, St Boswells Mart are clerking the sale to facilitate our expansion of sales across the UK. All rams will be sold by Harrison and Hetherington through the ring with the highest bid securing the purchase.

Minimum prices are set for each breed and at each grade, shown on page 9 of the catalogue.

The Innovis ‘hat’ option will not be available at this sale.

All rams purchased must be paid for in full and moved on the day.

Estates, Colleges or Businesses unable to accommodate this should notify our finance department in advance of the sale by email to accounts@innovis.org.uk or phone 01970 828236.

Any queries over accounts must be addressed before the event.

Harrison and Hetherington would like to take this opportunity to thank both Vendors and Purchasers for your support and attendance on the day.

Terms and Conditions All rams are sold in accordance with the Innovis Terms and Conditions for supply of goods and services, available to view on our website at www.innovis.org.uk.

Innovis will guarantee the performance of all rams sold at its official sales for the first mating season after purchase, provided that the owner can demonstrate that they have made reasonable efforts to ensure the health, welfare and security of the ram during that period.

Any issues post sale must be raised prior to 1st February 2023 and accompanied by appropriate evidence/supporting documentation in addition to a veterinary report where applicable. In the event that a ram is found to be defective, a replacement ram of equivalent genetic potential will be supplied. A credit note for the value of the ram may be issued against the buyers next purchase if the replacement is not available. No cash refunds are given.

14871HH

15819HH

14763HH

14766HH

14927HH

15257HH

15216HH

14777HH

15050HH

15167HH

15113HH

15604HH

15143HH

14797HH

15169HH

15811HH

14755HH

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

RAM

1

Breed Average

LOT

ABERFIELD

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

(Innovis EBVs)

Born

1.6

3.2

1.3

0.1

0.3

3.3

0.6

2.1

0.4

3.0

1.9

2.6

3.3

0.9

2.0

3.0

0.8

0.0

Growth

1.7

0.2

1.7

0.3

0.5

-0.1

1.2

1.6

1.2

0.1

1.6

1.8

1.3

1.2

3.3

1.4

2.6

0.0

0.6

0.5

0.0

-0.1

0.1

0.1

0.2

0.2

-0.2

-0.1

0.1

0.2

0.8

0.3

0.9

0.2

0.2

0.0

Muscle Fat depth depth

CARCASE TRAITS

0

0

-3

2

7

2

-2

-4

-3

0

0

-1

0

4

-2

2

1

0

Lambing Percentage

-0.4

-0.1

0.1

0.3

-0.4

0.1

0.6

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.1

0.0

0.2

-0.2

0.1

0.2

0.2

0.0

Matern. ability

EWE TRAITS

-3.1

-4.0

-2.3

-1.2

-2.0

-3.8

-0.9

-0.6

-2.6

-3.8

-1.4

-4.0

-4.3

-5.7

-4.8

-2.9

-2.3

0.0

Ewe weight

68

69

72

72

73

74

74

75

75

76

77

78

79

79

83

85

85

58

INDEX

SELECT

SELECT

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

GRADE

14823HH

14970HH

14690HH

14841HH

15419HH

14830HH

15015HH

15029HH

15234HH

14964HH

14715HH

14996HH

15185HH

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

RAM

18

Breed Average

LOT

ABERFIELD

Apr-21

Apr-21

Mar-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

(Innovis EBVs)

Born

-1.1

0.7

0.1

-0.5

-1.2

-1.2

0.2

0.9

0.6

-0.2

0.6

2.8

-0.5

0.0

Growth

-0.3

1.6

1.2

1.1

1.6

-1.0

1.1

1.1

1.9

-1.3

1.1

1.8

-0.7

0.0

-0.3

-0.1

-0.2

0.0

0.1

-0.2

0.1

-0.1

0.2

-0.1

-0.2

0.4

-0.1

0.0

Muscle Fat depth depth

CARCASE TRAITS

1

-4

-2

-2

-2

5

-5

0

-1

3

-2

-5

3

0

Lambing Percentage

-0.1

-0.2

-0.5

-0.2

-0.2

0.3

0.3

-0.4

-0.4

0.6

-0.2

-0.1

0.4

0.0

Matern. ability

EWE TRAITS

-2.7

0.4

-4.2

-2.9

-2.8

0.4

-3.3

-3.2

-3.9

-0.3

-2.3

-4.1

-0.7

0.0

Ewe weight

59

60

60

61

63

64

65

66

67

67

67

68

68

58

INDEX

SELECT

SELECT

SELECT

SELECT

SELECT

SELECT

SELECT

SELECT

SELECT

SELECT

SELECT

SELECT

SELECT

GRADE

RAM

30827SH

06895SH

30856SH

31187SH

30690SH

30828SH

30657SH

31151SH

31073SH

31219SH

30709SH

30823SH

31021SH

30898SH

31221SH

30739SH

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

46

Breed Average

LOT

HIGHLANDER

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

May-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

May-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

1.8

1.2

2.1

2.3

4.9

2.3

1.2

1.6

3.0

2.9

2.3

3.0

2.0

1.8

2.0

4.6

0.0

(Innovis EBVs)

Apr-21

Growth

Born

0.4

1.4

1.3

0.4

2.3

1.6

2.1

0.5

1.7

0.7

1.5

2.1

1.8

2.7

1.6

2.7

0.0

Muscle depth

0.0

0.1

0.9

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.2

0.2

0.5

0.2

0.1

0.7

-0.3

0.6

0.3

0.3

0.0

Fat depth

CARCASE TRAITS

-3

-4

-5

-2

-6

-3

-2

2

-5

-1

0

-2

-3

-2

1

0

0

-0.1

-0.2

0.3

-0.1

-0.2

0.0

-0.3

0.1

0.3

0.2

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.2

0.4

0.1

0.0

Lambing Matern.

Percentage ability

EWE TRAITS

-0.7

0.1

0.4

-0.6

2.7

0.4

0.1

-0.7

-0.6

-0.7

0.4

-0.8

-1.3

-1.4

-1.6

0.4

0.0

Ewe weight

Lamb Ease

***

***

***Top 5%, **Top 10%, *Top 25%

FEC

SHEPHERDING

199

200

200

201

204

206

207

208

211

211

213

215

216

218

224

225

197

INDEX

SELECT

SELECT

SELECT

SELECT

SELECT

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

GRADE

RAM

47 48 49 50

31368SH 31345SH 31334SH 31342SH

Breed Average

LOT

HIGHLANDER

MULTIPLIER MULTIPLIER

Apr-21

Apr-21

0

MULTIPLIER

0.0

EWE TRAITS

0.0

Lambing Matern.

Percentage ability

Apr-21

0.0

Fat depth

MULTIPLIER

0.0

(Innovis EBVs)

Muscle depth

Apr-21

Growth

Born

CARCASE TRAITS

0.0

Ewe weight

Lamb Ease

***Top 5%, **Top 10%, *Top

FEC

SHEPHERDING

197

INDEX

MULTIPLIER

MULTIPLIER

MULTIPLIER

MULTIPLIER

GRADE

09832EH

09649EH

09726EH

09643EH

09578EH

52

53

54

55

RAM

51

Breed Average

LOT

CHEVIOT - SOUTH COUNTRY TYPE

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

-1.7

-1.3

0.5

0.8

3.1

0.0

(Innovis EBVs)

Apr-21

Growth

Born

-0.7

-0.3

0.5

1.1

1.0

0.0

Muscle depth

-0.2

0.0

0.1

0.3

0.1

0.0

Fat depth

CARCASE TRAITS

-4

-4

-5

-3

-1

0

Lambing Percentage

-0.1

-0.1

0.2

0.2

0.2

0.0

Matern. ability

-0.4

-0.4

-0.4

-0.4

-0.4

0.0

Ewe weight

EWE TRAITS

43

44

57

65

75

58

INDEX

COMMERCIAL

COMMERCIAL

COMMERCIAL

SELECT

ELITE

GRADE

RAM

14473HH

14560HH

14518HH

14869HH

14548HH

14738HH

15293HH

14459HH

14506HH

14379HH

14522HH

14591HH

14792HH

14526HH

14411HH

56

57

58

59

60

61

62

63

64

65

66

67

68

69

70

Breed Average

LOT

ABERTEX

Mar-21

Mar-21

Apr-21

Mar-21

Mar-21

Mar-21

Mar-21

Mar-21

Apr-21

Mar-21

Mar-21

Apr-21

Mar-21

Mar-21

0.1

1.7

1.4

1.8

2.4

0.3

3.8

3.2

1.7

-0.5

-0.1

0.3

-0.4

1.2

2.2

0.0

(Innovis EBVs)

Mar-21

Growth

Born

0.1

1.8

1.4

0.6

0.5

0.2

1.6

1.5

0.9

0.5

0.3

0.7

1.8

1.3

1.1

0.0

0.3

0.0

0.5

0.7

0.3

0.0

0.7

0.8

0.3

-0.1

0.2

0.1

0.2

0.4

0.4

0.0

-2

-14

-4

2

-4

0

-4

-4

-2

1

3

3

0

3

6

0

-0.3

0.1

-0.4

-0.3

-0.3

0.0

-0.4

-0.3

-0.1

0.0

0.1

-0.1

0.0

0.1

0.5

0.0

Matern. ability

EWE TRAITS

Muscle Lambing Fat depth depth Percentage

CARCASE TRAITS

82

87

88

89

89

91

95

95

96

97

99

100

104

108

112

86.0

Lamb Ease

Lamb Vigour

***

*

*

***

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

***Top 5%, **Top 10%, *Top

MATERNAL Carcase Index INDEX

SHEPHERDING

COMMERCIAL

SELECT

SELECT

SELECT

SELECT

SELECT

SELECT

SELECT

SELECT

SELECT

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

Grade

30780SH

30804SH

30688SH

31096SH

31088SH

31272SH

30686SH

31276SH

31265SH

30639SH

30808SH

30971SH

31303SH

30989SH

30993SH

72

73

74

75

76

77

78

79

80

81

82

83

84

85

86

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

30778SH

71

Born

( Innovis EBVs)

RAM

Breed Average

LOT

ABERMAX

2.1

3.4

0.0

3.1

2.8

0.6

1.9

1.6

2.5

2.3

2.0

2.0

4.7

2.8

3.4

3.0

0.0

Growth

0.5

0.2

1.2

-0.4

0.3

1.2

0.9

0.7

0.5

1.6

1.4

1.6

1.1

1.6

1.4

3.1

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.0

-0.1

0.2

-0.1

0.1

-0.1

-0.1

0.5

0.1

0.1

0.5

0.2

0.1

0.7

0.0

7

10

8

8

8

9

5

8

5

7

8

6

7

8

9

9

4

LAMBING Muscle SUBINDEX Fat depth depth

ULTRASOUND

179

179

179

181

183

187

187

188

189

190

197

202

206

209

212

221

150

INDEX

*

*Top 25%

LAMBING EASE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

GRADE

30960SH

31090SH

30939SH

30845SH

30949SH

31274SH

30761SH

31227SH

88

89

90

91

92

93

94

95

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

31273SH

87

Born

( Innovis EBVs)

RAM

Breed Average

LOT

ABERMAX

-0.2

2.3

0.7

-0.2

-0.1

2.1

2.0

1.2

2.4

0.0

Growth

0.1

0.3

0.6

0.6

1.0

0.2

0.8

1.1

0.8

0.0

-0.1

0.6

0.1

-0.1

0.1

0.1

0.4

0.4

0.5

0.0

8

9

3

5

5

8

9

9

7

4

LAMBING Muscle SUBINDEX Fat depth depth

ULTRASOUND

159

163

164

165

168

174

176

177

178

150

INDEX *Top 25%

LAMBING EASE

SELECT

SELECT

SELECT

SELECT

SELECT

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

GRADE

30836SH

31301SH

30802SH

30771SH

30982SH

31269SH

30985SH

31119SH

31116SH

30896SH

30838SH

30840SH

97

98

99

100

101

102

103

104

105

106

107

RAM

96

Breed Average

LOT

ABERBLACK

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

May-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

1.0

2.0

1.6

2.4

0.6

3.0

2.0

2.3

2.3

3.4

3.7

2.7

0.0

(Innovis EBVs)

Apr-21

Scan weight

Born

0.2

0.7

0.9

1.2

1.9

0.7

1.4

1.6

1.5

1.8

2.0

2.7

0.0

Muscle depth

-0.1

0.1

0.2

0.1

0.1

0.2

0.2

0.1

0.2

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.0

Fat depth

-4

-3

-3

-12

-3

-2

-1

-2

0

-2

-1

-1

1

LAMBING SUBINDEX Maternal Index

*

**

***

**

*

**

***

*** Top 5%, ** Top 10%,

Lambing Ease

79

101

102

106

110

113

117

123

124

138

146

149

72

INDEX

SELECT

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

GRADE

30773SH

31268SH

30705SH

31266SH

30630SH

31254SH

30644SH

30895SH

30916SH

109

110

111

112

113

114

115

116

117

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Jan-00

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

Apr-21

31308SH

108

Born

(Innovis EBVs)

RAM

Breed Average

LOT

PRIMERA

0.4

0.9

1.3

1.9

2.2

1.6

1.1

1.7

3.5

4.2

0.0

Growth

0.6

0.6

0.8

0.3

0.3

1.3

1.7

1.7

1.0

0.7

0.0

Muscle depth

0.1

0.5

0.0

0.5

0.5

0.3

0.3

0.6

0.5

1.1

0.0

Fat depth

202

211

215

217

222

228

231

236

242

243

181

INDEX

*

***

*

***

***

**

*

*

*

***

* Top 5%, ** Top 10% *Top 25%

Lamb Survival

SELECT

SELECT

SELECT

SELECT

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

ELITE

GRADE

OUR SALES Our first ram sale was held in 2011 at Aberystwyth.

2022 will be our 12th season of sales and since our original sale, we are now hosting 9 sales or selection days throughout the UK as well as events for Dalehead and Kepak.

Our rams are bred by more than 23 breeding partner flocks located throughout the country and recording 11,000+ ewes. Each ram has gone through a rigorous selection process before being deemed fit for sale and we regularly cull animals that do not achieve the high standards we and our clients expect.

The Innovis breeding programme remains one of the largest globally.

ADDITIONAL DATES We intend to host other sales at venues across the country on the following dates.

Each sale is subject to COVID-19 regulations and circumstances in each area at the time of the sale and we will publish any changes as soon as possible.

St Boswells

Harrison & Hetherington, St Boswells Mart, Melrose, TD6 0PP

August 23rd

Carlisle Sale

Harrison & Hetherington, Borderway Mart, Rosehill CA1 2RS

August 29th

Stirling Sale

Caledonian Marts Ltd, Stirling Auction Centre, Stirling, FK7 7LS

August 31st

Exeter Sale

Kivells, Exeter Livestock Centre EX2 8FD

September 2nd

Aberystwyth Sale

Peithyll Farm, Capel Dewi, Aberystwyth, SY23 3HU

September 8th

NOTES

NOTES

BREEDING EWES FOR SALE We’re hosting our crossbred ewe page at https://www.innovis.org.uk/ewe-lambs-sale/ to market Innovis crossbred ewes and ewe lambs.

We’re also pleased to be working with Sell My Livestock to drive the trade of Innovis crossbred females.

We’ve set up an Innovis Portal on the Sell My Livestock site, containing listings of stock verified by us as genuine Innovis crossbred animals.

The portal can be viewed at https://sellmylivestock.com/portal/innovis

Keep an eye on these pages if you’re looking to add to your flock.

If you would like to list ewes for sale, you can do so in 3 ways

1.

Visit our portal on Sell My Livestock, click the ‘new listing’ tab.

Add your information and we’ll approve your post.

2.

Visit our site www.innovis.org.uk fill in the ‘Advertise your ewes with us’ form. Your listing will be added on our website and the Sell My Livestock site if you choose to do so.

3.

Contact your regional sales adviser who will list them on your behalf.

If you would like any additional information about stock for sale or would like help with a listing, get in touch with our head office on 01970 828236

HEALTH PROTOCOL Innovis understand that when selecting sheep for breeding, health is vitally important in ordered to protect the productivity of your flock. Therefore, we operate a unique program to maximize health and biosecurity of our whole ram production system, from the source flocks, through to growing units and finally the rams for sale.

All breeding partner flocks are part of a health screening program where ewes are blood sampled and some culled and screened for the major production limiting iceberg diseases through a partnership with ‘Farm Post Mortems’. Further strategic screening is undertaken throughout the year and tailored flock health plans ensure that all ram lambs have had a similar start to life.

The five main Iceberg diseases: Maedi Visna (MV) Our breeding partner flocks are either MV accredited with PSGHS or monitored on a proportional testing program in line with the MV accreditation scheme but operated by Innovis. Please contact our office if you specifically want MV accredited (PSGHS) stock. Innovis would implement a test and cull protocol across the whole flock if one of our breeding flocks tested positive for MV until two clear tests were achieved.

Borders Disease In a ground-breaking initiative for our Sheep Industry, each ram has been bled and certified as Borders Disease (PI) Negative. Any PI positive ram would be culled albeit that none have been identified since we started testing in 2017.

Caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) All our breeding flocks are screened for CLA exposure annually and any suspect abscesses on rams tested. Vaccination would be introduced if a flock were identified with CLA. Ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (OPA) As there is no robust validated test, we monitor condition score of ewes on a regular basis and post -mortem fallen stock or any ill-thrift animals where possible. We are actively involved in trying to develop a more robust approach to diagnosis and screening.

Johnes Disease All retained ram lambs are vaccinated with ‘Gudair’ vaccine before five months of age, irrespective of the flock Johnes status, to safeguard their working life to customers. We also monitor for Johnes disease at multiplier flock level annually through faecal samples and post mortem reports.

Ram lambs move on to grower units, selected for good biosecurity and management systems each farm runs a grass and forage-based system and has a tailored health plan, meaning that each ram for sale is grown under similar conditions.

Finally, to ensure our rams are fit for purpose, each ram undergoes a pre-sale MOT to examine its suitability for breeding. This includes a clinical examination together with palpation and visual inspection of the external genitalia. Rams will leave our sales having had a quarantine drench of either 4-AD = Monepantel (Zolvix™) or 5-SI = Derquantel / abamectin (Startect™) in line with SCOPS guidelines.

The rams will have also received a trace element bolus and Pasteurella vaccination booster pre-sale.

Sheep Scab – rams will have either been screened for exposure to Scab (Psoroptes ovis antibody ELISA test) at a group level or plunge dipped pre-sale.

HOW TO FIND US ST BOSWELLS MART Newtown St Boswells Melrose TD6 0PP Tel: 01835 822214 Email: stboswells@borderway.com what3words: ///recap.major.submitted

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INNOVIS LTD, PEITHYLL, CAPEL DEWI, ABERYSTWYTH, SY23 3HU 01970 828236 enquiries@innovis.org.uk