Sheep Tech - From Genetics to Genomics

By: "Farm Tender" News
Ag Tech News
Feb 21, 2019
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The sheep industry has transformed itself into a world leader in genomics research and technology adoption in just 10 years as a result of the collaborative investment in the Information Nucleus Flock (INF) – an initiative which continues to yield benefits even to this day.

Genetics program leader for the Cooperative Research Centre for Sheep Industry Innovation, Prof. Julius Van der Werf, said the first genomic testing tools that were developed 10 years ago were able to be quickly adopted by Australian sheep breeders because of the volume of high-quality data that was being delivered by the INF.

“Nothing like the INF had been attempted anywhere else in the world, with thousands of sheep being recorded for traits that were not easily measured by breeders – for example the meat quality of their lambs and parasite resistance of the ewes,” Prof. Van der Werf said.

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“As a result of that investment the Sheep CRC was able to develop genomic tests that could provide breeders with predicted breeding values for these traits on their young rams.”

In undertaking this task, the Sheep CRC worked in partnership with researchers from universities across Australia, leading producers and breed societies, and industry bodies including Sheep Genetics, Meat & Livestock Australia and Australian Wool Innovation.

From the start the CRC has considered a ‘whole of the sheep’ approach rather than researching meat and wool independently of each other.

“It seems so obvious now, but prior to 2001 the industry had taken a fragmented approach to sheep genetic research,” Prof. Van der Werf said. “If it wasn’t for the strategic and collaborative approach that coincided with this shift in philosophy, the sheep industry would not be in the position it is today.”

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Prof. Van der Werf will headline a powerful line up of speakers discussing the industry’s transformation and the new genomics technologies that are now coming online as part of the Sheep CRC’s Final Conference to be held in Dubbo on March 19-20.

The ‘Genetics to Genomics’ session on March 20 will feature:

* Prof. Van der Werf on ‘Transforming genetic selection’

* Leading SA stud breeder Andrew Michael on ‘New tools for a breeder in a hurry’

* Neogen Australia’s Jason Lilly on ‘DNA—where is it going?’, and

* Farm adviser Sally Martin on ‘Using genomics to make money’.

There will also be presentations from Sheep CRC training program leader Lu Hogan and Victorian breeder Stu Warner on how producers can use the suite of tools available to them, including RamSelect.com.au, to improve genetic selection.

“The CRC also developed tools for commercial sheep producers, for example the parentage test, the poll horn test and the Flock Profile test,” Prof. Van der Werf said. “Merino flocks can now easily gauge the genetic potential of their flock and with RamSelect, they can target the rams that suit their purpose.

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“We have also improved the DNA test by selecting the best genetic markers after studying the complete DNA sequence of sheep. This test can be provided to the industry for a price that is very affordable when compared with other industries.

“These tools have led to better prediction of the outcome of selection decisions and faster genetic gains, as well as better ways to combine information to improve wool and meat production for more profitable sheep flocks.”

Picture - Julius van der Werf

https://www.sheepcrc.org.au/