{"id":20,"date":"2026-01-15T02:50:43","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T02:50:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fegold.dev.pivotdesign.co.nz\/?page_id=20"},"modified":"2026-03-09T03:39:01","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T03:39:01","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/fegold.dev.pivotdesign.co.nz\/index.php\/about\/","title":{"rendered":"About"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

About FE Gold<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\u201cThere has been concern by some Ramguard breeders regarding the sale and subsequent misrepresentation of FE genetic stock.\u00a0 This is happening where top FE genetics are potentially being diluted and the resulting progeny being presented for sale as “FE Tolerant”. There is little we can do to stop this but some clients want to promote the breeders that are dosing at the top level with a brand like \u201cFE Gold\u201d.\u00a0 Ramguard is taking on board these suggestions and is willing to look at this as a solution and is getting advice on promoting this idea.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Neville Amyes , Ramguard.<\/em><\/div>
\u00a0<\/div>
It is impossible to control genetic material. Once a ram is sold we relinquish control over how he is used and how his progeny are represented.<\/div>
Only through education of our clients can we affect their purchasing decisions. There seems to be a lack of knowledge and confusion regarding the definition of FE tolerance and how it is achieved.<\/div>
A group of concerned breeders has been discussing this and come up with the following:<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Mission Statement:\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
To produce a brand that protects the investment sheep breeders have made developing the FE tolerant gene pool while providing greater clarity to the commercial farmer in regards to selecting FE tolerant rams.<\/div>
\u00a0<\/div>
A proposal has been introduced to create a FE Gold brand to be applied to breeders who have achieved the highest level of FE tolerance within their flocks. FE Gold will be open to all breeds. This is a work in progress and a steering committee has been set up composing of Perendale, Romney and Coopworth breeders. It is encouraging to have all the breeder groups working together for the good of the industry<\/div>
\u00a0<\/div>
This FE Gold would be used in conjunction with the current 5 Star system and be presented on the Ramguard certificate. With the available genetics today, rams tested for facial eczema\u00a0at 0.6mg\/kg of sporidesmin\u00a0may be introduced and a flock may make rapid gains in tolerance as opposed to the old days where selection was the main tool and there were no rams tested at high rates to purchase to lift the flocks tolerance. However, testing still must be in place and selection must be rigorous to achieve improvements in tolerance. Heritability of FE tolerance is 0.4, so gains can be made quickly but several years of using high tested rams is still required to lift the flocks tolerance.<\/div>
\u00a0<\/div>
Read the FE Gold Charter here\u00a0fegold-charter-final.docx<\/a><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Ram Breeder Eligibility Criteria:<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t