White Suffolk · Data
Big data. Big gains.
Every terminal trait measured — so your flock moves further, faster.
Three groups. Every trait with a name, a number and a trend.
The terminal is bred for meat and easy lambing — so we group the traits that matter to a lamb producer: growth, carcass and lambing ease. Each group opens with how we breed for it, then pick any trait to read what it measures, our thinking behind it, and, where a genetic trend exists, Trigger Vale plotted against the terminal average.
- Source
- LAMBPLAN
- Analysis run
- 1 July 2026
- Data quality
- 85% · 5-StarHow they score it
- Accredited by
Growth
Fast to finish. Easy to lamb.
We push post-weaning growth hard so lambs hit market weight sooner — while holding birth weight low, so ewes lamb unassisted.
Best selected alongside
No trait is bred in isolation — growth is balanced against these to keep the whole animal in shape.
Birth Weight
The lamb's genetic birth weight, measured within 24 hours of birth. Held moderate on purpose — heavy birth weight is the fastest way to a hard lambing.
Birth weight is the trait most terminal programs let drift. We don't. High growth is only an asset if the lamb gets on the ground alive — so we hold BWT well below the terminal average while still pushing weaning and post-weaning weight.
That gap is the point: big growth off a small start, ewes lambing unassisted, no surprises at marking.
When you select for BWT, these move with it
- Lower birth weight means easier, unassisted lambing
- Higher lamb survival to marking
- Rises with growth if left unchecked — held in balanceManage
Carcass
Muscle, yield and eating quality.
Large eye muscle and high lean meat yield for the buyer, plus IMF and shear force for meat that eats well every time.
Best selected alongside
No trait is bred in isolation — carcass is balanced against these to keep the whole animal in shape.
Post Weaning Eye Muscle Depth
Eye-muscle depth scanned at the C-site post weaning. Higher PEMD lifts muscling, carcass shape and lean meat yield.
Eye muscle is yield and shape — the reason a terminal sire lifts the carcass value of the drop. We push it hard because it is the trait that separates a lamb that grades from a lamb that gets discounted.
When you select for PEMD, these move with it
- Higher lean meat yield
- Better carcass shape and dressing
- Carries through to carcase eye muscle
- Can trade against marbling if pushed too hardManage
Reproduction
Lambs on the ground, on their own.
Terminal sires bred for lambing ease — a lamb born easy off a low birth weight, so ewes lamb without help. Fewer lambs pulled, more alive the first morning, less time in the lambing paddock when you're flat out.
Best selected alongside
No trait is bred in isolation — reproduction is balanced against these to keep the whole animal in shape.
Lambing Ease
The genetic difference in ease of lambing. Higher LE breeds sires whose lambs are born more easily — fewer assisted births.
Lambing ease is where a terminal sire either helps or hurts. Push growth without watching birth weight and you buy yourself a lambing round full of intervention. We do the opposite — LE selected up, birth weight held down.
More lambs born unassisted is more lambs weaned and less labour at the busiest time of year.
When you select for LE, these move with it
- Fewer assisted births
- Higher lamb survival to marking
- Works directly with a moderate birth weight