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is the brand name for Border Leicester Rams that are of high
genetic merit in meat traits. They have been bred to quality
standards in Border Leicester flocks and each ram has been
measured for growth, fat and muscle by accredited operators
and independently analysed by LAMBPLAN for genetic merit expressed
as Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs). Each ram sold with EBVs
which have been standardised between flocks by means of link
sires and represent the value of the genes that will be passed
on to the First-cross progeny.
Research station trials
within the Maternal Central Progeny Test (MCPT) show that
there are large differences in $ returns between prime lamb
mothers bred from different sires. The Border breed is amongst
the best, but choosing the best ram is more important than
choosing the breed. You can use $uperBorder$ ratings to choose
the best rams.
Each ram is presented with its EBVs,
in the same way as the terminal sires, however there are more
traits to assess than growth and carcass. These traits can
be key profit drivers for prime lamb production as they largely
reflect reproduction and the ewe's ability to rear their lambs.
One of the major extra EBVs is Number of Lambs Weaned (NLW).
Another is Milk Yield (shown as Maternal Weaning Weight (Mwwt),
because it is assessed by san analysis of the growth to weaning
of different sire lines traced through the ewe). Some breeders
are also recording and selecting for worm resistance.
Rams are given an overall rating as a
Dollar Index. This is built from the dollar values
of each extra kg of weight or extra lamb weaned. As an example,
an index of 105 would return an extra $5 for each ewe joined
each year, or $1,000 for a lifetime's progeny of 200 lambs.
This extra value would be shared by the First and Second-cross
breeders.
A $uperBorder$ ram must
be above breed average for growth and number of lambs weaned.
They must also be within set limits for fat and eye-muscle
depth. These rams are tagged with the special $uperBorder$
tag. Prime lamb breeders can use ewes bred from these
rams with the confidence that they are the best of the breed. | 
