The information nucleus: A new concept to enhance sheep industry genetic improvement

Abstract

The Information Nucleus is an innovation for sheep industry improvement that is a program of the new CRC for Sheep Industry Innovation. It will allow breeders to quickly exploit new technology and molecular information to achieve more rapid genetic improvement in the industry. Key young industry sires are progeny tested for an extensive range of traits in widely differing environments. Genetic information will be generated on new traits and those that are difficult to measure commercially. Some of the benefits will flow immediately to industry through enhanced accuracy of Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs) for current and new traits. The longer term benefits to industry will flow from development of sheep genomic technologies such as whole genome scans and molecular breeding values combined with existing quantitative ASBVs. The Information Nucleus involves mating 100 sires to 5000 ewes annually across 8 major sites over the range of sheep production environments in Australia. The progeny represent the major Merino and crossbred types in the industry and will be evaluated for a wide range of growth, carcass, meat, wool, reproduction and parasite resistance traits.