Merino sheep producers can now compare Merino sheep bloodlines from wether trials and on-farm comparisons across the country from the past ten years.
The updated Merino Bloodlines Package report has been funded by Australian Wool Innovation Limited (AWI) in conjunction with the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) and shows relative performance in regard to wool production, wool quality and profitability.
AWI Wool Production General Manager Ian Rogan said the package was an important tool for commercial Merino producers who wanted to identify the best options for their breeding objectives.
He informed that the analysis takes out all environmental factors between trials and years, leaving only the genetic variation between the bloodlines. Information is only reported where wethers have been bred from the same bloodlines for at least five years, and there are accuracy ratings depending on the number of sheep that contributed to the results.
One of AWI's key research areas is to develop genetic tools for use by woolgrowers to improve their productivity, and benchmarking plays an important role in this. NSW DPI project leader Sally Martin said the updated Merino Bloodline Package showed a difference in profitability of $6 per head per year between the top 20 per cent bloodlines and the bottom 20 per cent.
Mrs Martin informed that this translates into significant differences in bloodline profitability.
The Merino Bloodlines Package also includes a five step process that growers can follow to help get a better understanding of the way particular bloodlines can drive production. AWI has also recently launched Sheep Genetics Australia (SGA) in conjunction with Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), which provides another tool for growers to improve their flocks.
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