Wiltshire Horn sheep at Pickwick Stud have the genetics for extremely good performance, above the breed average, in growth, muscling, low fat, maternal performance and other features of top meat sheep. Pickwick Stud was one of the first studs to make extensive weight records, and combined these with computer programs to analyse relative growth rates and genealogies, selecting for fast growth to weaning. These records provided an excellent basis for joining the LambPlan scheme, and we were the second stud to do so, and progress has been rapid. Our sheep have consistently improved in overall quality over 18 years of careful selection. Some areas of particular interest:

Growth

We have looked for animals that can grow fast, especially significant in an environment where drought has become regular and pastures generally poor. Pickwick sheep are not hand fed. LambPlan analysis enables you to distinguish genetically fast growing animals even when they are members of twins or triplets.

Fat

We are aiming to breed lean sheep at Pickwick, maintaining low fat genetics over the last few years while performance in muscling and growth has improved.

Muscle

We are aiming to breed sheep with muscle at Pickwick, and it has been pleasing to see well muscled young weaners becoming the norm. 

Growth to weaning

From the early days at Pickwick we concentrated on fast growth and improving weaning weight.

Ewe Fertility

Wiltshires are highly fertile, and at Pickwick we have concentrated on producing even more fertile animals. Pickwick regularly has a lambing percentage of between 150% to 200%. Even in poor conditions ewes will produce twins, and triplets arrive every year. One Pickwick ewe produced a set of quads! Wiltshire ewes have abundant milk and are good mothers, and normally raise triplets unaided.

 Mothering

Wiltshire ewes are excellent mothers, and weaning percentages are nearly as high as percentages of lambs born (the small difference largely due to foxes). As part of our strategy of selecting for temperament, Pickwick has looked for exceptionally good mothers, and the genetics for number of lambs weaned is also showing steady improvement. Since measures of the maternal performance of ewes became available from LambPlan, Pickwick has shown an increase. All of these factors of reproductive and maternal performance are of particular interest in situations where Wiltshires are being used as maternal sires to produce first cross ewes. They will also be of interest to Wiltshire Horn stud breeders. Another important factor is birth weight, and we have kept a careful watch on the genetics of this, to avoid lambs being either too big or too small.

 Worms

Records of worm loads are kept, analysis done to establish genetics, and selection of breeding pairs made on the basis of good worm resistance.

Shedding

Records of wool shedding ability and horn shape have been kept for many years, and analysis shows some genetic components which are taken into account when selecting breeding pairs.

Temperament

Selection for genetically quiet animals has always been a feature that Pickwick has been famous for.

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