Genetic solutions

Abstract

Based on current trends, increased consumers' perception of animal welfare in agricultural production will impact livestock systems, including meat sheep and wool production systems. Sheep breeding programmes target the most profitable type of animal for future production circumstances in three ways: increasing production to increase returns, improving health to decrease cost and considering future production and product requirements such as welfare-related traits, to retain the social licence to operate. To integrate novel traits in existing breeding programmes, methodologies are required to determine the economic value of these traits, which can be challenging, especially if the trait does not have a direct value that can be derived from the current market.