Tune in to hear Dr Nicola Lambe and Dr Mark Ferguson discuss sheep genetics, methane emissions and their intersection with climate change. 

With an impressive 25-year career at Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), Nicola brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our listeners. From her beginnings as a poultry research assistant, Nicola is now a teacher and project manager at SRUC. 

Throughout her career, she has played a crucial role in CT scanning work in Scotland, helping farmers breed for better meat and carcass quality in their sheep.

20 years ago they started with a second-hand CT scanner from a hospital that wasn't mobile. Now, they have one on the back of a truck trailer that travels around the country. Through the years this has produced a wealth of data to analyse.

"It takes cross-sectional images through the body," she explains. "We have software that can calculate fat, muscle and bone in different areas of the body. You can look at the 3D reconstruction of the images and examine it in different planes to measure muscle dimensions and body part volumes."

From this, a lot can be recorded. Muscle mass, fat percentages and even rumen capacity and pelvis size and Nicola goes through the results of this research, plus the more recent methane and feed efficiency work Nicola and SRUC have been involved with. They are currently recording methane via portable accumulation chambers, the CT traits listed above, feed efficiency, rumen microbiome, disease resistance and commercial performance.

Mark and Nicola dive a little deeper and discuss the impact of methanogens, organisms that generate methane in sheep. The relationship between methanogens and sheep genetics is an intriguing subject that still lacks complete understanding. However, advances in technology over the past ten years have greatly influenced the industry and, with research happening globally, answers aren't far away.

Head Shepherd is brought to you by neXtgen Agri International Limited. We help livestock farmers get the most out of the genetics they farm with. Get in touch with us if you would like to hear more about how we can help you do what you do best: [email protected].

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