The RamCompare project is celebrating its tenth year in 2025 and is once again seeking new rams to join this year's breeding season.
The national progeny test, joint-funded by AHDB and Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC), needs rams or semen from performance-recorded, terminal sire breeds.
Launched in 2015, the project tests terminal sire rams with Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) in the top 20% of their breed.
Natural service sires should be shearlings or stock rams with a known, high health status.
Older stock rams are welcome providing they are fit and fertile. The project also purchases frozen semen in batches of 30 doses for use via artificial insemination (AI).
Bridget Lloyd, RamCompare project coordinator, said this was a great opportunity for breeders to get involved, as improving efficiency and reducing costs were key drivers for any business.
She said: "Testing their ram’s genetics within the national progeny test will provide them with important data which can be used to promote future ram sales.
Nominating rams to RamCompare allows breeders a unique opportunity to gather information which can demonstrate how their rams could benefit individual enterprises for potential buyers.”
Matt Harding is the owner of the Bentley Suffolk flock and has supported the project for many years and is enthusiastic about the benefits it brings to his business.
"Putting our stock rams onto RamCompare via AI is a great opportunity to test them while retaining their genetics for our own flock," he said.
“Progeny performance is recorded on commercial farm settings, with growth data collected from birth through to slaughter.
"This vital feedback allows us to ensure we are moving our flock genetics in the right direction, and we are excited to see how our latest rams have performed.”
Since RamCompare’s launch, over 503 rams have been tested, producing more than 48,000 lambs, helping farmers select high-performing sires whose progeny deliver valuable carcases and reduced production costs.
Samuel Boon, senior animal breeding manager (Signet) said: “This is an exciting time for the project, with Signet set to release genomic breeding values for abattoir traits.
"It is great that breeders like Matt recognise RamCompare results as valuable when marketing rams. Practical demonstration of the benefits of breeding values to aid commercial ram selection are vital.”
