Genetic evaluation for the Australian sheep industry

Abstract

Sheep Genetics Australia (SGA) was established to deliver a national across-flock genetic evaluation system to the Australian sheep industry for terminal sires, maternal sires and Merinos. To achieve the aim of providing a single national genetic evaluation language for Australian sheep breeders, significant developments to existing systems were necessary and required various new innovations. These included the amalgamation of databases, data transformations, refinement of analysis models, genetic grouping methodology, updated genetic parameters, multiple trait across-flock linkage assessments, index development, and reporting changes. Since the establishment of SGA, research and development to further improve the system has continued. This paper describes SGA and the analysis used to estimate Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs). More information is located at www.sheepgenetics.org.au.