Breeding tools and the woolgrower
Exciting tools are available to ram breeders and commercial woolgrowers that will have the ability to increase the rate of genetic gain in Merino flocks and lift profitability across the industry.
Genetic benchmarking
AWI supports three forms of genetic benchmarking – Sheep Genetics Australia, Merino Superior Sires and the Merino Bloodline Performance package – which assess performance at the progeny, sire and bloodline level respectively.
Sheep Genetics Australia (SGA) was developed by AWI and Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) to provide woolgrowers with a national genetic database that can easily be used to calculate across-flock breeding values for individual animals for traits of importance in a breeders flock.
Merino Superior Sires (MSS) operates independent progeny testing sites to provide an accurate tool to identify the genetic merit and visual performance of Merino sires.
The Merino Bloodline Package identifies which bloodline will best satisfy a range of breeding objectives by measuring the performance of Merino bloodlines across wool production, wool quality and profitability attributes.
Information and results from breeding trials such as the SARDI Selection Demonstration Flock project and the Trangie QPLU$ project are also available to help woolgrowers.
Measurement tools
AWI has created a range of products to help woolgrowers better assess and employ their own on-farm fibre measurement (OFFM) procedures. These range in nature from an OFFM calculator to help assess the expected financial benefits of applying OFFM to wool enterprises, through to an independently run OFFM Quality Assurance (OFFM-QA) program developed to recognise and support professional OFFM service providers.
A Visual Assessment Scores pocket guide will soon be released. This is designed to provide sheep classers and breeders with an industry-accepted set of visual standards to consistently describe, record and class sheep for accelerated genetic gain.
Research and development:
AWI is developing and funding a range of genetic tools for woolgrowers. These include DNA-based tests for parentage and performance traits, as well as ways of integrating this information into breeding systems through AWI and MLA-funded research in SheepGenomics and the Sheep Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Industry Innovation.
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