Sheep producers have the chance to tap the top minds in the industry and enhance their understanding of how the latest breakthroughs in genomic research are delivering more productive sheep and better tasting lamb.
The potential for genomics in the sheep industry is amongst the topics that will be discussed at the Sheep Cooperative Research Centre (Sheep CRC) breakfast workshop, to be held on 28 June as a part of LambEx 2012 in Bendigo.
The Sheep CRC workshop entitled, Genomics – sheep breeding’s holy grail; How to use DNA testing of sheep for strategic breeding in a variety of flock structures, will feature a series of speakers detailing the latest research, including recent major breakthroughs in eating quality.
Sheep CRC CEO James Rowe said that the CRC’s LambEx breakfast would also showcase how genomic research can be adopted by commercial breeders.
“The Australian sheep industry is well placed to benefit from genomic science, which is rivalling the dairy industry for accuracy for some traits and is ahead in terms of the number of difficult to measure traits for which there are predictions,” Prof. Rowe said.
“Attendees at the breakfast workshop will have the opportunity to hear from Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), CRC and Victorian Department of Primary Industries (Vic DPI) speakers, as well as a commercial ram breeder on how DNA testing of sheep can be used for strategic breeding in a variety of flock structures.”
Recently released traits from the genomics program include the horn-poll prediction, dressing percentage and lean meat yield. In addition, many previously released traits now have improved accuracies due to increased data available from the Sheep CRC’s Information Nucleus program and from the Sheep Genetics data base.
“Of particular importance among the traits with improved accuracy is the prediction for intramuscular fat, which is a key determinant of eating quality and a trait that is very difficult and expensive to measure,” Prof. Rowe said.
“While more data will continue to be delivered from the Sheep CRC Information Nucleus program, the latest results will immediately provide ram breeders with greater certainty when selecting breeding stock.”
Operating as part of the Federal Department of Innovation Industry Science and Research’s CRC program, the Sheep CRC is a collaboration of industry, government and the commercial sector.
It is working to increase productivity and profitability of the industry through new technologies for adoption by both the meat and wool supply chains.
The Sheep CRC breakfast workshop will be held at the Bendigo Exhibition Centre Function Room on Thursday June 28 from 6.45am. Register to attend at www.lambex.com.au