NATIONAL MERINO RAM PROGENY TESTING SCHEME

Procedure for participation in the National Merino Progeny Testing Scheme

 Any registered Merino breeder can register on-farm progeny tests.
 Complete application forms and send to Merino SA® for registration.
 Use at least 2 rams for linking of studs, which comprise gold merit rams and / or rams which already have 25 or more progeny in a completed

progeny test.
 Ewes must be approved by a Merino SA adviser and be mated randomly.
 Mate or AI at least 50 ewes per link- and test ram and identify every ram’s group of ewes.
 A minimum of 25 fully performance tested progeny per ram is a prerequisite
 All data is processed and stored centrally by the ARC (Fleece Testing Centre).
 Gold Merit Certificates are issued for rams approved by the Merino SA® Council.

Gold Merit Ram awards by Merino S.A.®

Exceptional achievers in Merino Ram progeny tests are honoured with gold Merit Status.  These tests are popular among Merino breeders due to their accuracy

as a method of selection in identifying genetically superior sires. The genetic potential of rams is predicted by complete performance testing of all

progeny, by means of the father model BLUP analysis.  Merino SA® recommends that gold Merit Rams be made available for AI.

Criteria for Evaluation

 Reliability of Test is calculated as a function of the number of progeny of each sire,    as well as the number of contemporaries with which its

progeny is being compared.       
 A selection index is calculated according to the monetary value awarded to each characteristic.
 Linear judging on 11 visually scored characteristics is done.  (See example – page 36)
 Culling faults must be recorded according to the culling code list.

Cut off limits for gold merit rams

 Progeny of 25 and more which have completed performance testing.
 Culling faults on breed standards <15%
 Culling faults on linear characteristics <20%
 EPD economic values >R10-37 (33% percentile value 12/09/2006 – reviewed annually)

 The average EPD on economic value of all rams in the progeny testing programme = 0. This is the average of selected rams and must not be confused

with the national flock average, of which the value will be considerably lower.  The test results of every ram is indicated graphically on a standard

scale.