OSF (Ontario Sheep Farmers) is pleased to organize two pilot breed meetings in Ontario, in collaboration with the CEPOQ genetic team. These meeting are open to all Canadian breeders and will be leaded by Fred, our geneticist. Dorset and Suffolk breeders are the two groups identified as pilot.
Those meetings are a good opportunity to discuss about the challenges of your breed and find solution together to go further. They give the opportunity to know where you are, what you did in the past and target objectives for the future. Two webinars can be watched on OSF Youtube channel as an introduction to breeder group meetings. The links can be find below.
These meetings are offered once a year to follow up the objectives targeted the previous year.
The registration is required for the preparation of your personalized reports, the group report and the presentation.
REGISTRATION
- Dorset breeders January 26, 2022, 7:30 p.m. via Zoom Platform
- Suffolk breeders January 27, 2022, 7:30 p.m. via Zoom Platform
Register before Friday, January 14, 2022, if you wish to participate.
COST TO PARTICIPATE: 40$ (plus HST) per participant.
Registration costs included the following:
- 2 hours meeting with the geneticist
- your personalized report
- your own genetic trends against the breed trend
- your own performance trends against the breed trend
- the group report.
HOW TO REGISTER
Email: admin@ontariosheep.org with your name, telephone number and breed or contact the OSF office at 519 836 0043.
Payment can be made by credit card or e-transfer.
LEARN MORE
Last September, OSF offered 2 advanced genetic trainings to Ontario breeders to introduce breed group meetings. Those meetings happen once a year and are good opportunities for breeders to discuss the strengths of their breed, but also the challenges they must face, and to take orientations as a group on where to go for the future.
Breed Group Meeting Objective
Breed group meeting (per breed) started in Quebec 3 years ago and originated from the Quebec purebred sheep breeders’ association (SEMRPQ). The objective of these meetings is to have breeders sit together per breed to discuss the challenges faced in their flock and brainstorm solutions. The concept was adopted by Quebec breeders who enjoy the personalized reports and the opportunity to discuss with CEPOQ geneticist once a year. The benefits on genetic gains are noticeable – the strength of the group brings breeders further than when they are working alone.
2 Pilot Groups
OSF is pleased to organize the first two breed meetings in Ontario, in collaboration with the CEPOQ genetic team, and the participation of CSBA that funded the report translation. As Dorset and Suffolk breeders are the two main breeds that demonstrated interest in taking part of those meetings according to the survey, they will have the opportunity to participate in the first meetings early 2022.
How it Works?
The meeting is around 2 hours long, depending on the participation of the group. Frédéric Fortin, CEPOQ geneticist, will present the actual genetic situation of the group, according to data recorded in GenOvis, the strengths and the weaknesses of the breed, the top animals and more. Usually, the geneticist will talk around 50% of the time and breeders must talk the other 50%. Frederic needs to know future genetic achievements expected by participants for their breed to adapt his recommendations to the group.
Each participant accesses his personalized report, genetic trends, performance trends and the group report (all the participants are considered as only one breeder). To access personalized data, the participant must be a GenOvis member. The meetings are also open to non-member.
RECORDING OF PREVIOUS SESSION
It is highly recommended to watch the recording of the 2 previous sessions that introduced the breed meeting and will give you a better understanding. Those videos are available on OSF Youtube channel by following the links below.
Link to the videos:
- Session 1: click here (genetic gain theory)
- Session 2: click here (personalized and breed report presentation)
This is a great opportunity for Suffolk breeders to discuss together and access new tools to go further.
We will be pleased to have you participating in these meetings.