Breeding for profit - how to get involved
AWI is investing in the research, development and extension of breeding tools to help. Australian woolgrowers identify the best animals to select for breeding.
Sheep Genetics Australia
www.sheepgenetics.org.au
Sheep Genetics Australia (SGA) is the national genetic information and evaluation service for the wool and meat sectors of the sheep industry. MERINOSELECT is the service within SGA for Merino ram breeders and commercial wool producers. Developed in conjunction with MLA, SGA calculates the across-flock progeny breeding values for more than 40 key traits.
Contact: 02 6773 2948
SGA manager Richard Apps, rapps@mla.com.au; MERINOSELECT project officer Sam Gill, sgill@mla.com.au
Merino Superior Sires
http://mss.anprod.csiro.au
This annual report, produced in collaboration with the Australian Merino Sire Evaluation Association (AMSEA) and CSIRO, allows direct comparison of Merino sires evaluated at seven medium and five fine-wool Central Test Sire Evaluation sites across Australia.
Contact: AMSEA executive officer Ben Swain, 02 6743 2306, ben_swain@bigpond.com
Merino Bloodline Performance
www.merinobloodlines.com.au
This information, produced in collaboration with the NSW Department of Primary Industries, can help woolgrowers assess the benefits and financial returns of commonly used Merino bloodlines. Based on wether trial information, it uses fleece weight, fibre diameter, wool-quality traits and body weight to describe gross margin per DSE for each bloodline.
Contact: NSW DPI project leader Sally Martin, 02 6382 1077, sally.martin@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Merino Breeding for Profit
This eight-page brochure outlines the outcomes from the SARDI Selection Demonstration Flock project. The study found that while all trialled breeding methods made good genetic progress and a combination of strategies can be used in any flock, a strategy based on objective estimates of genetic performance achieved the highest dollar return.
Availability: Hard copy via AWI Helpline 1800 070 099, or online at www.wool.com.au/publications (PDF 3MB).
Proceedings of the Trangie QPLU$ Open Da y
The 2007 Proceedings provide information on outcomes from the NSW DPI co-funded Trangie QPLU$ study. The take-home message for producers is clear: well-defined breeding objectives and improved selection accuracy mean greater certainty in the selection process and faster rates of genetic gain.
Availability: Hard copy via AWI Helpline 1800 070 099, or online at www.wool.com.au/publications (PDF 668KB).
On-Farm Fibre Measurement
www.wooloffm.com.au
OFFM-QA Accredited Operators
The national OFFM quality assurance (OFFM-QA) scheme, run by AWI in conjunction with AWEX, aims to provide users with the confidence to use OFFM technologies, systems and measurements. The OFFM website provides a list of organisations that have succeeded in meeting all of the requirements of the OFFM-QA program.
OFFM Calculator
This decision-support tool (MS Excel), produced in collaboration with the Sheep CRC and NSW DPI, and available on the OFFM website, allows woolgrowers and wool brokers to assess the expected financial benefits of applying OFFM to wool enterprises, separated into clip preparation, breeding and selection.
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