SIG Directors

Sheep Improved Genetics Directors: David Disney, Nick Westcott, Peter Baber, Tim White, David Rossiter, Bill Geen, Henry Hayes, Matt Geen, (Peter Delbridge, Richard Webber - not in picture).

The SIG Ltd plan is to establish a viable research, development and sheep breeding programme which will produce a low input and easily managed ewe, fit for purpose in meeting the demands of a sustainable UK sheep sector.

The key element of the breeding programme is to establish and use an effective data management system which will efficiently drive forward the utilisation of genetic traits in the selection of sheep breeding stock.

SIG Ltd was established in 2008 by 9 commercial sheep farmers in the South West of England with the intention to become a leading sheep breeding company in the UK. To do this we will:

• Stimulate significant breed improvement through intensive genetic selection utilising effective technologies
• Improve flock health - reduce use of pharmaceutical products
• Improve profitability for the UK commercial sheep sector – lower overheads, bring greater returns; maximising yield
• Increase environmental effectiveness of sheep production – genetic selection protocols, higher health status and improved forage & feed management will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Put simply, the main aim is to develop and deliver healthy, functional sheep with high welfare standards with low input and management qualities, which will improve viability for UK lamb producers and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Our first objective has been to breed a performance recorded wool shedding or hair sheep. We are well on the way in achieving this and have used native breeds as well as imported bloodstock in establishing 3500, partial to full, shedding ewes. As and when needed the group members have some 10,000 ewes available for the project.

• A key element of the breeding programme was establishing and using an effective data management system which will efficiently drive forward the utilisation of genetic traits in the selection of breeding stock.
• The nine members came together following a Roadmapping day sponsored by Genesis Faraday (Bio-Science KTN) in 2006.
• The membership is unique in having leading progressive pedigree breeders as well as committed and determined commercial lamb producers.
• We have access to or are members of; Bio-Science KTN, SAC, Roslin, BBSRC, SIL (New Zealand Geneticist), Plymouth University, International Society of Animal Genetics, Ruminant Genome Biology Consortium.

We have the support of EBLEX, the NSA, NFU technical department, Randall Parker Foods Ltd, St Merryn Meat Ltd, Southern Counties Fresh Foods Ltd and Mole Valley Farmers.

SIG is unique in as much as we are determined to seek out the emerging DNA chromosome technologies to advance our knowledge of resistance and/or resilience in diseases such as foot rot, endoparasites, mastitis, abortion, etc. No other sheep breeding group in England (pedigree or other organisation) have set out on this route of selection.