An Australian Sheep Genetics System: Summary Report

Abstract

Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) and Woolmark Company PL (WM) and predecessors, have long supported research and development into the use Quantitative Genetics for sheep breeding. Over four decades, tens of millions of dollars have been invested from meat and wool industry levies and from Commonwealth (CSIRO, research levy matching, grants) and State governments (via Departments of Agriculture).

MLA and Woolmark agreed in mid 2000 that was timely to review current arrangements for genetics databases and to consider the feasibility of a national sheep genetics service.

Issues prompting this study included:

• Relatively low level of sheep industry use of quantitative genetics (QG) in Merino breeding and in breeding prime lamb maternal sires.
• Existence of different genetics databases operating on different technical and costing bases, and with differing reporting languages, including :

1. Lambplan, started in 1988 by the Meat and Livestock industry, focussing on meatsheep breeds and recently, Merinos. Now a division of MLA.
2. Advanced Breeding Services (ABS) a NSW Agriculture unit from 1990 concentrating on Merino breeders, including services to Merino Benchmark.
3. Select Breeding Services (Select) – an advisory unit based at CSIRO Chiswick concentrating on Merino breeders.
4. Central Test Sire Evaluation (CTSE), plus wether trials and breeding trials giving quantities of sheep data, for Merinos and meatsheep.

• Whether current arrangements are the most efficient and effective or whether a more standardised or co-ordinated approach is warranted.

Market and commercial baselines: In preparing this study, it was also understood that:

• Woolmark and MLA have been concerned to achieve a viable and successful Australian sheep genetics system, as marked by usefulness to sheep industry sectors in achieving genetic gain of commercial value to sheep producers.
• Success would be measured mainly by patronage of any system in the sheep industry marketplace and by adoption of QG techniques to achieve commercial gain – there would be no compulsion on breeders to use the service.
• Potential for any genetics service entity to operate in a commercial manner was to be considered.

Hence, the ASGS report examines, from first principles, a range of the expectations, issues and concerns that characterise an active, competitive marketplace, with regard to:

1. adoption of genetics technology in the Australian sheep industry,
2. the market for genetics services and systems for service delivery, and
3. improving returns for breeders and commercial wool and sheepmeat producers.

The full ASGS report investigates the changing sheep industry and genetics progress in other industries. It is available in two parts:

An Australian Sheep Genetics System. Part 1: Feasibility Issues Options, Sandra Welsman, October, 2000

An Australian Sheep Genetics System. Part 2: Genetics Service Providers and Compatibility, Sandra Welsman, October, 2000

Citation

An Australian Sheep Genetics System: Summary Report, Sandra Welsman, 15th June, 2001