RIDEAU PERFORMANCE DATA
In 1989, 107 ewes from 6 flocks were recorded on the SFIP.   In 2002, 2308 ewes from 23 flocks were recorded.   The Rideau breed accounted for 33% of all sheep recorded in the SFIP in 1997.   The increase in the number of ewes recorded is due to the Rideau's ability to wean more pounds of lamb than any other breeds recorded and the demand from the commercial industry for recorded breeding stock.  
Rideau sheep should be used in commercial flocks to improve the maternal traits within that flock.   Traits such as age at first lambing, lambing interval, ewes lambing compared to ewes exposed, number born, number weaned, mothering ability arid milking ability are considered maternal traits.   The Rideau is considered to be a maternal line breed because they excel in the performance of these maternal traits.

Rideau sheep should not be used to improve post-weaning gain or carcass traits.   These terminal sire traits are highly heritable and should be improves with terminal sire breeds such as Suffolk, Hampshire, Texel and Oxford.   Maternal breeds should be used in commercial flocks to produce replacement ewe lambs.   Terminal breeds should be bred to these highly productive ewes to produce market lambs.

Improvements in maternal traits will increase the pounds of lamb weaned per ewe per lambing and per year.   This increase in performance will significantly increase the net income per ewe.   The Rideau produces approximately 38% more lamb than the next most productive breed as you can see in chart #1.   Much of this increase in production can be translated to net income because the first lamb that a ewe produces will pay many of the expenses incurred by that ewe. Therefore ewes that have the ability to wean on average 1.8 lambs that weigh 52 pounds every 315 days will be much more profitable than ewes that do not.

MANAGEMENT CHANGES
Changes in management must be made to allow the Rideau ewe to express her potential to improve the pounds of lamb produced per year.   When ewes are producing at this high level it is extremely important that the proper nutrition is provided.   This is very important in late gestation and in lactation.   Approximately 50% of Rideau ewes carry three lambs or more during pregnancy and another 40% carry twins (see chart #2).

Chart #2: % Distribution by Type of Birth
Sheep Flock Improvement Program
Year	Single	Twin	Triple	Quad+
1993	10.0	39.5	33.2	17.3
1994	8.9	40.1	35.7	15.3
1995	11.2	42.6	32.4	13.8
1996	8.7	38.5	35.7	17.1
1997	9.6	39.9	34.7	15.8
2000	12.1	39.7	33.2	15.0
2001	11.0	36.5	34.2	18.3
2002	11.4	39.5	32.6	16.5
Average	10.4	39.5	34.0	16.1

It is important that the overall amount and quality of feed is improved in late gestation to the entire lambing flock.   The lambing flock can also be scanned to identify the number of fetuses per ewe and the flock separated and fed accordingly.   The extra nutrition given to the flock before lambing will ensure that healthy, vigorous lambs are born that will have access to adequate amounts of colostrum.  
Once the lambs are born, it is important that adequate floor space is provided to allow the ewe to properly bond to her litter.   At least 20 square feet should be provided per ewe and lamb set.   During lactation the ewes should be separated according to the number of lambs, age of ewe and body condition score.   This type of grouping will allow for the most efficient use of feed resources.   It is important that the lambs be provided with a highly palatable creep feed as early as two week of age. Early consumption of creep feed will allow the ewes to raise more lambs to weaning.

WHY USE RIDEAU SHEEP?
Rideau sheep can be used by any producer who wants to improve the cash flow of their business. When Rideau genetics are introduced into a flock the number of lambs weaned will be increased and the amount of milk produced will improve regardless of the production system.

If ewes are managed on an accelerated program the lambing interval will also be decreased. Rideau ewes perform extremely well in intensively managed systems where the flock is given the opportunity to lamb 5 times in 3 years or 3 times in 2 years. This is evident by the short lambing interval (see chart #1) 305 days or 1.2 lambings per ewe per year.   The breed average lambing interval will decrease and the number of lambs weaned per ewe will improve as more flocks become more stable in size and first time lambing ewes become a smaller portion of the flock.   There are a large number of young ewes in most Rideau flocks in Canada because they are growing in size.   In flocks with stable numbers the lambing interval should be approximately 280 days or 1.3 lambings per ewe per year and the weaning rate per lambing will be 210+%.   This short lambing interval in combination with high lamb weaning rates will allow the shepherd to produce market lambs every month of the year.   This provides the business with cash flow on a monthly basis.   However, there must be a commitment by the shepherd to produce lambs on this type of a schedule and provide the flock with the necessary nutrition that will allow the ewes to perform at this level of production.

Rideau sheep will also perform well on annual lambing systems.   The average number born per lambing will likely increase if the ewes are lambed once a year, so the shepherd must be prepared to handle these higher lambing rates.   Rideau ewes will perform well when lambed on grass.   Some mature ewes may have trouble bonding to sets of 4+ lambs when lambed on grass.   Therefore good observation at lambing is important.   Rideau ewes milk well on good pastures and will raise triplets without extra grain.   It is suggested that a creep feed be provided to these lambs on grass to ensure good growth rates as the milk production of the ewe starts to decline.

In commercial flocks, the most cost-effective way to introduce Rideau genetics is to purchase Rideau rams.   When Rideau rams are crossed on to non-prolific type ewes the resulting half-bred Rideau ewes will in most cases wean .3 to .4 more lambs per ewe per lambing compared to the non-prolific foundation ewe.   In most flocks this will increase the lambing rate to 180% to 200%.   This level of production may be optimal for large grass lambing flocks where resources of labor and feed may limit the number of lambs that a ewe is capable of weaning.  

If the commercial producer is comfortable with the production of half-bred Rideau ewes and desires a higher lambing rate, 3/4 Rideau ewes will increase the lambing rate to 220 – 230%.   A gradual increase in lambing rate by increasing the Rideau blood in the ewe flock is a good strategy because it allows the shepherd’s management skills to develop as the prolificacy increases, keeping lamb mortality to a minimum.   Rideau sheep can be used in any flock managed under any type of production system to improve maternal characteristics of the flock, in particular: mothering ability, number of lambs weaned and the amount of milk produced.

References:
1. Ontario Sheep Flock Improvement Programs, Annual Report 1993-1997.
2. Research and Technology for increasing the Efficiency and Output of Lamb Production Systems, Technical Bulletin 1987-11E, Agriculture Canada.