Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 3 — Observational / field trialPeer-reviewed

Data to identify key drivers of animal growth and carcass quality for temperate lowland sheep production systems

A. Jones; H. Fleming; B. Griffith; T. Takahashi; M.R.F. Lee; P. Harris

Data in Brief · 2021

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Summary

This paper presents a longitudinal dataset from the North Wyke Farm Platform in Devon, comprising matched records of 741 ewes and 2978 lambs across nine years of grazing trials. The dataset was collected to establish an evidence base for identifying the key drivers of growth performance and carcass quality in temperate lowland sheep systems, with potential application to deriving measurable KPIs for improving industry profitability and resource use efficiency in the face of climate and sustainability pressures.

Regional applicability

The study was conducted at the North Wyke Farm Platform in Devon, United Kingdom, making findings directly applicable to UK temperate lowland sheep production systems. The grazing trial design and measured outcomes are particularly relevant to UK farming practice and policy aimed at improving both productivity and environmental efficiency in sheep farming.

Key measures

Liveweight trajectories, carcass quality metrics, animal growth rates, and key performance indicators (KPIs) for sheep production systems

Outcomes reported

The study provides longitudinal matched data from 741 ewes and 2978 lambs collected between 2011 and 2019 to identify drivers of animal growth and carcass quality. A subset was analysed to assess early-life liveweight as a predictor of carcass quality and to derive key performance indicators for the sheep industry.

Theme
Farming systems, soils & land use
Subject
Livestock nutrition & meat quality
Study type
Research
Study design
Field trial
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
United Kingdom
System type
Pasture-based livestock
DOI
10.1016/j.dib.2021.106977
Catalogue ID
NRmonp58y5-00b

Topic tags

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