Six Easy Care rams have been purchased by Shrewsbury-based Farmgene Ltd. from Co. Antrim flock owner Campbell Tweed.

They will be joined by 30 ewes from the same flock with the intention of producing high quality embryos for the New Zealand market.

The embryos will be exported from the UK to the southern hemisphere once all relevant health checks have been carried out.

Campbell Tweed told Agriland:

“The rams left the farm last Thursday evening. Their purchase is the first of its kind by Farmgene.

“So any development that can help reduce labour input while, at the same time, retaining the quality of the output generated by a farming business, will be actively considered in New Zealand. The same story is also unfolding in Australia," he added.

Tweed's Ballycoose farm is home to approximately 3,000 Easy Care ewes. There are an additional 300 Wiltshire Horn females, which are used for cross breeding purposes.

All the sheep on the farm are self shedding, from a wool point of view. The ewes lamb outdoors during the months of April and May.

“Ease of management is the key driver of the business,” Tweed explained.

“But improving the efficiency of the Ballycoose flock as a whole is equally important.”

All of the sheep at Ballycoose Farm are performance recorded. Signet is used in the UK with Sheep Ireland also involved.

This year has also seen all of the rams genotyped by Sheep Ireland in order to genetically determine their parentage. The results of this work have been very positive.

Tweed confirmed that his ongoing commitment to flock recording helped seal the deal with Farmgene.

According to the Co. Antrim breeder, demand for Easy Care sheep continues to strengthen across the island of Ireland.

He commented: “In my own case, the number of sheep producers seeking replacement Easy Care females just keeps on rising."

Looking ahead, Campbell Tweed believes that the Irish sheep sector can look forward to a very sustainable future.

“Demand for sheep meat has never been stronger in New Zealand and Australia. What’s more this trend is likely to be maintained into the future.

“On this basis alone, the prospects for Irish sheep production are extremely strong," he concluded.