Premier's Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence

2008 Wallaceburg, ON

Codan Suffolks was 1 of 55 winners of 180 applications of the 2008 Premier's regional awards for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence.

Codan Suffolks - Lambton County

Bill and Lynne Duffield are building a better flock using DNA testing from "down under".

Theirs is the first Canadian sheep farm to use this technology pioneered by a New Zealand doctor.

An FTA card, a chemically treated filter paper used to collect and store DNA, is the key factor that enables the farm to send samples to the other side of the world. The farm sends the cards via international courier and results are returned electronically.

The program has enabled them to genetically test for cold tolerance and footrot. This has resulted in better breeding decisions and economic returns for the farm.