Wilson's not sheepish about pushing carcase quality as the key

Published on Wednesday 7 November 2007 00:14

CARCASE quality should be the driver in selection of rams for breeding, according to Robbie Wilson who runs the noted Strathisla flock of pedigree Suffolk sheep at North Dorthlaithers, near Turriff in Aberdeenshire, writes Dan Buglass.

This flock of 80 ewes has for the fourth time been adjudged as the best in the breed. Wilson has certainly had a highly successful year taking the top prices at both the Edinburgh and national sales with prices of 48,000gns and 10,000gns respectively.

Speaking to over 200 visitors from all over the UK and the Republic of Ireland who recently viewed the winning flock, Wilson said: "Carcase is my No 1 priority and I never look at the pedigree until I've looked at the carcase. Carcase is my first, second and third priority. You only have to watch the bulls at the Perth sales to see that it's the ones with the big backsides that make the most."

Wilson has for many years been a keen advocate of performance recording. He added: "We record because I believe it is important for the future progress of the breed. It is a tool all serious breeders should be using because, through optimising figures, the cutting edge of commercial lamb producers are carving themselves greater profit. To progress flock genetics we also have to use ET [embryo transfer]. This keeps us at the forefront of the breed."

In addition to lifting the overall championship Wilson also won awards for the best ewe lambs, the best stud rams and the best ewes.