The concept which drives the LNS breeding programme is our ability to measure and record performance data from our stocks of fish being reared under commercial conditions and then match and relate that data to our own ‘home reared’ broodstock families.

To achieve this, each year we set up new families of fish, some members of which are retained at our breeding station whilst the rest are supplied to commercial customer sites. By measuring the performance and survival characteristics of this second group we can use this information to influence breeding decisions in the first, retained group.

This process is referred to as the LNS sentinel testing programme. Its success is reliant upon us being able to accurately and precisely identify each family member both in our breeding station as well as within the domain of the sentinel test.

For this our sentinel fish are genotyped using the unique LNS marker system which allows any individual selected from many thousands to be identified back to its original family.

Through the careful management of breeding not only can the farming and eating qualities of the stock be improved but also any possibility of in-breeding can be avoided.

Good for the fish, good for the farmer, good for the consumer!