Survey of Canadian sheep and goat producers

In the summer of 2023, there were 252 surveys completed. Summaries of the responses are presented separately for meat sheep, meat goats and dairy goats. Please note that several producers raise animals for multiple commodity groups and therefore their comments may be repeated (e.g. the same comment may appear for both meat sheep and meat 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.

Some of the key findings

A high proportion of respondents have indicated that they would like to have additional information on genetic improvement programs; so there is an appetite for good information. Many respondents would like to see that information online.

In particular, there was great interest in “using a website listing performance tested rams or bucks, and their owners’ contacts, that would allow you to select the traits that are important to you”. Such a website already exists, to a large extent, within both genovis.ca and goatgenetics.ca, so it seems that many producers do not know about these tools even though they already exist in some form.

The criteria that sheep producers use the most for within herd selection decisions are, in order: weaning weight records, number born records, pedigree, visual conformation, health and physical soundness, visual size, etc. Breeding values come only in seventh place behind all the preceding reasons. For selection from other herds (fewer number of respondents), breeding values come after pedigree (by a large margin) and visual conformation.

For dairy goat producers, breeding values come in fourth position behind visual conformation, pedigree and number born records when selecting within herd, and in fourth position behind milk test records, pedigree and classification records when selecting from other herds.

For meat goats, breeding values come in sixth position for selection within herd and fourth position for selection from other herds. However, in the case of meat goats, the situation is different. Since breeding values are not routinely available yet, it is understandable that they would not rank high as a selection criterion.

The above responses illustrate the need for beter informing purebred and commercial producers about genetic improvement programs, particularly producers that do not use these programs, or who use them but not to the extent that they can get the full benefit.

Another observation is that most producers are already collecting and recording data using a variety of methods. Making it easy for producers to send this data for use in genetic improvement programs could save time and add value to something they are already doing.

Project activities to help increase participation in genetic improvement programs

The survey results have helped to initiate the following three activities in the final year of the project:

1. Formation of a Communications Advisory Commitee composed of producers and a specialist in communications and persuasion from Dalhousie University, Dr. Stanley Asah. The Commitee is developing approaches that the Genetic Services Network and member organizations can use to improve communication and increase participation in the programs.
2. Development of a Genetic Services Network website which will have basic information on what is available for sheep and goat genetic improvement services, what the benefits are, how to participate and links for more information from the organizations involved in delivering these services.
3. Producing information on the economic value of genetic improvement for sheep and goats, in particular, how much savings and extra income can be realized from the use of top ranking rams and bucks.
   
   

These activities are on-going and will be completed by September of 2024 when the current project is ending. However, the partners in the project have agreed on the creation of a permanent Genetic Services Network that will build on these and other activities that were achieved during the project. An action plan has been developed and the partners are currently exploring options for additional funding to turn the Action Plan into action.