Genetics and Genomics Commons^™

Sheep Updates 2016, Mick Keogh, David Cornish, Michael Chilvers, Gerry Hinkley, Danielle England, Rosemary Bartle, Brad Wooldridge, Norm Santich, John Young, Ashley Herbert, Jamie Heinrich, Graeme Howie, Bruce Mullan

Sheep Updates

This session covers eleven papers from different authors:

1. Forward, Dr Bruce Mullan, Director Sheep Industry Development, Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia

2. The Australian sheep industry in 2025, Mick Keogh, Australian Farm Institute

3. Decision making in a risky environment, David Cornish, Cornish Consulting

4. Business Transitioning, Michael Chilvers, Nile Tasmania

5. Advisory Boards in WA Agriculture - making life 'easier' for everyone, Gerry Hinkley, Producer, Tincurrin and Danielle England, Aginnovate

6. Principles of Successful Family Business Succession Strategies, Rosemary Bartle, Succession Planning Facilitator, Rabobank

7. Diversifying the Feedbase...is the …

Sheep Updates 2015 - Merredin, Bruce Mullan, Kate Pritchett, Kimbal Curtis, Chris Wilcox, Lynne Bradshaw, Geoff Lindon, Katherine Davies, Joe Young, Stephen Lee, Dawson Bradford, Khama Kelman, Lucy Anderton, Jaq Pearson, Jackie Jarvis, Ben Patrick

Sheep Updates

This session covers fourteen papers from different authors:

1. The Sheep Industry Business Innovation project, Bruce Mullan, Sheep Industry Development Director, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia

2. Western Australian sheep stocktake, Kate Pritchett and Kimbal Curtis, Research Officers, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia

3. Wool demand and supply - short term volatility, long term opportunities, Chris Wilcox, Principal of Poimena Analysis

4. Myths, Facts and the role of animal welfare in farming, Lynne Bradshaw, president, RSPCA WA

5. Latest research and development on breech strike prevention, Geoff Lindon, Manager Productivity and Animal Welfare, AWI

6. …

Sheep Updates 2015 - Katanning, Bruce Mullan, Kate Pritchett, Kimbal Curtis, Chris Wilcox, Mike Hyder, Leigh Sonnerman, Lynne Bradshaw, Geoff Lindon, Katherine Davies, Joe Young, Stephen Lee, Ian Robertson, Lucy Anderton, Hayley Norman, Ed Barrett-Lennard, Jackie Jarvis, Ben Patrick

Sheep Updates

This session covers fourteen papers from different authors:

1. The Sheep Industry Business Innovation project, Bruce Mullan, Sheep Industry Development Director, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia

2. Western Australian sheep stocktake, Kate Pritchett and Kimbal Curtis, Research Officers, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia

3. Wool demand and supply - short term volatility, long term opportunities, Chris Wilcox, Principal of Poimena Analysis

4. Lifetime management for maternal ewes, Mike Hyder, Research Officer, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia

5. National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) for sheep and goats - what is the NLIS database? Leigh Sonnermann, …

Sheep Updates 2015 - Moora, Bruce Mullen, Kate Pritchett, Kimbal Curtis, Daniel Real, Jaq Pearson, Lynne Bradshaw, Geoff Lindon, Katherine Davies, Kevin Hepworth, Stephen Lee, Dawson Bradford, Lucy Anderton, Jackie Jarvis, Ben Patrick

Sheep Updates

This session covers thirteen papers from different authors:

1. The Sheep Industry Business Innovation project, Bruce Mullan, Sheep Industry Development Director, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia

2. Western Australian sheep stocktake, Kate Pritchett and Kimbal Curtis, Research Officers, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia

3. Tedera - a perenial forage legume to reduce your supplementary feeding in summer and autumn, Dr. Daniel Real, Senior Plant Breeder, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia

4. National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) for sheep and goats - what is the NLIS database? Jac Pearson, Biosecurity Officer, Department of Agriculture and …

Sheep Updates 2015 - Ravensthorpe, Bruce Mullan, Kate Pritchett, Kimbal Curtis, Chris Wilcox, Mike Hyder, Leigh Sonnerman, Lynne Bradshaw, Geoff Lindon, Katherine Davies, Joe Young, Stephen Lee, Ian Robertson, Lucy Anderton, Hayley Norman, Ed Barrett-Lenard, Jackie Jarvis, Ben Patrick

Sheep Updates

This session covers fourteen papers from different authors:

1. The Sheep Industry Business Innovation project, Bruce Mullan, Sheep Industry Development Director, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia

2. Western Australian sheep stocktake, Kate Pritchett and Kimbal Curtis, Research Officers, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia

3. Wool demand and supply - short term volatility, long term opportunities, Chris Wilcox, Principal of Poimena Analysis

4. Lifetime management for maternal ewes, Mike Hyder, Research Officer, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia

5. National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) for sheep and goats - what is the NLIS database? Leigh Sonnermann, …

Sheep Updates 2007 - Part 2, Ian Mcfarland, Catherine Stockman, Anne Barnes, David Pethick, Jenny Davis, Brett Thompson, Ron Leng, Sally Pieruzzini, Elizabeth Jackson, Mohammed Quaddus, Nazrul Islam, John Stanton, Melanie Dowling

Sheep Updates

This session covers six papers from different authors:

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

FINISHING LAMB AND BEEF

1. Precision Feedlot Lamb, Ian McFarland, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia

2. Feeding sheep under high heat load did not decrease intake of feedlot rations, Catherine Stockman, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia & Murdoch University, Anne Barnes, Murdoch University David Pethick, Murdoch University

3. Taking the stress out of fifishing lambs and cattle - EasyFeed solutions, Jenny Davis, Brett Thomson, Milne AgriGroup, Welshpool WA, Ron Leng, Emeritus Professor, University of New England, Armidale, NSW

WOOL

4. DAFWA …

Ewe And Wether Trials - Tools For Benchmarking Your Sheep Genetics, Lock Butler

Bulletins 4000 -

Research and sheep productivity trial results demonstrate a huge variability in genetic productivity between flocks. For example a range of up to 2 kg clean fleece weight, 5 microns, 55 percentage points in lambing percentage and 20 kg live weight, can lead to big differences in gross margin between flocks.

There is an opportunity for genetic improvement, depending on your current ram source or sires performance. For example, Western Australian (WA) Wether Trial results suggest half the WA flocks could improve clean fleece weight per head by half a kilogram or more. The trial results suggest that this could occur …

Sheep Updates 2005 - Part 7, S. M. Liu, A. C. Schlink, J. R. Williams, M. E. Dowling, J. C. Greeff, Roy Butler, Keith Croker, L. G. Butler, Rob Davidson, Ken Hart, Doug Harrington, Mario D'Antuono, Julian Gardner, Geoff Duddy, R. G. Woodgate, A. Le Feuvre, A Bailey, R. B. Besier, N. Campbell, I. Carmichael, S. Love, Richard Stovold

Sheep Updates

This session covers eight papers from different authors:

POSTERS

1. Sulpher in wool and its implications for fleece weight and sheep health, SM Liu, AC Schlink, JR Williams, CSIRO Livestock Industries Wembley WA, ME Dowling,JCGreef, Department of Agriculture Western Australia.

2. Stubbles for sheep: a reality check, Roy Butler, Keith Croker, Department of Agriculture Western Australia.

3. Genetic benchmarking using artificial insemination, LC Butler, JC Greeff, Department of Agriculture Western Australia.

4. The potential lambing performances of ewes in mixed age flocks, Kieth Croker, Department of Agriculture Western Australia, Rob Davidson, WAMMCO International, formally University of Western Australia, Ken Hart, …

Sheep Updates 2003 - Wool, Richard Coole, Stephen Gherardi, Chris Oldham, K. Curtis, J. Stanton, Johan Greeff, Chris Oldham, Mike Hyder, Beth Pagamoni, Andrew Thompson, Tom Plaisted, Kazue Tanaka, Mike Ferguson, Darren Gordon, Andrew Peterson, Peter Sommerville

Sheep Updates

This session covers six papers from different authors:1.‘Pastures from space’ - an opportunity to increase the profitability of sheep production Richard Coole Farmer Kojonup W.A. Stephen Gherardi Chris Oldham Department of Agriculture Western Australia 2. K. Curtis Department of Agriculture WA J. Stanton Department of Agriculture WA and Curtin University 3. Is selection of ewe hogget replacement on measurement profitable? Johan Greeff Department of Agriculture of Western Australia 4. Optimising the nutrition/grazing management of ewe flocks Chris Oldham Mike Hyder Beth Paganoni Department of Agriculture of Western Australia Andrew Thompson Department of Primary Industries, Hamilton, Victoria Tom Plaisted Kazue Tanaka …

Sheep Updates 2003 - Husbandry, Paul Barrett, Kevin Bell, J Greeff, L. Butler, S. Brown, K. Hart, A. Gray, John Karlsson, Paula Coombe, Ron Mctarrart, David Scobie, Sandy White

Sheep Updates

This session covers seven papers from different authors:1. Setting up a successful, low input feedlot Paul Barrett, ‘Bimberdong’ Jerramungup 2. Effective mineral supplementation of sheep Kevin Bell, Sheep Management and Production Consultants, Kojonup, WA 3. Genetic benchmarking for WA sheep producers J. Greeff, L. Butler, S. Brown, K. Hart and A. Gray Department of Agriculture Western Australia 4. Does selecting sheep for low WEC reduce scouring? John Karlsson, Johan Greeff and Paula Coombe, Department of Agriculture Western Australia 5. Summer quarters for sheep - stubbles Ron McTaggart, Department of Agriculture Western Australia, Albany 6. Thinking about breeding Easy Care Sheep? …

Clones Help Develop Ewe Feeding Strategy, Myra Yelland, Rob Kelly, John Davies, Johan Greeff

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Cloned sheep are not a new animal to the researchers of Agriculture WA, but the method that produced Dolly is.

Cloned sheep have been produced at the great Southern Research Institute as early as the mid 1980s. Myra Yelland, Rob Kelly, John Davies and Johan Greef outline how clones are used in experimental studies on wool production

Better Flock Benchmarking From Wether Trials, David Windsor, Bronwyn Clarke

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Genetic links between wether trials put in place by Agriculture Western Australia's Wool Program are helping farmers benchmark the productivity of their flocks on a statewide basis. David Windsor and Bronwyn Cklarke report on the progress to date.

Sheep And Wool Industries Need To Improve Their Performance, Rob Kelly, Tim Marshall

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Today in Western Australia, sheep are run at slightly higher stocking rates, are achieving greater lambing percentages (up JO per cent) and higher wool cuts per animal ( up 0. 6 kg greasy) than in the 1960s. When all components of production are considered, the productivity of sheep fanns has increased by 2. 7 per cent per year over the past 35 years.

The challenge of the next decade is to achieve substantially greater rates of improvement than for past years if the sheep and wool industries are to maintain their significant place in Western Australian agriculture.

Artificial Insemination Of Ewes With Frozen Semen, David Windsor

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The judicious use of artificial insemination (Al) of ewes with frozen semen by ram breeders offers substantial gains for wool producers, but it promises even greater benefits if it can be used more widely within commercial breeding flocks.

In the Western Australian dairy industry, for example, genetic gains between 1971 and /986 are estimated to have been three times as great in herds bred by Al as in herds that were mated naturally.

Embryo Transfer In Sheep, Andras Szell

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The application of artificial breeding in the sheep industry has increased substantially over the past decade.

This article outlines the potential uses and benefits of embry transfer in sheep and describes the procedures involved.

Differences Between Merino Strains And Studs, Roger Lewer

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

When commercial wool growers select Merino rams they often use the following pattern: the buyers first consider the main strains of Merinos in Western Australia - Bungaree, Collinsville and Peppin. They then study the 550 studs and numerous non-stud ram breeders in this State. Having chosen a breeder, they examine the rams on offer and buy their annual requirements from among these. Until recently, no objective information has been available on the differences between studs and strains in Western Australia's agricultural areas. However, as part of a major study at the Department of Agriculture's Great Southern Agricultural Research Institute, these …

More Lambs By Mating Weaners, R J. Suiter

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Farmers can increase sheep numbers by mating ewe weaners. Trials have shoen that this does not affect the later performance of these ewes.

Objective Measurement And The Stud Breeder, B R. Beetson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The movement towards sale of wool by certificate and sample highlights the significance of objective measurement in the Merino stud breeders' selection of his top rams.

This article suggests how stud breeders should use the Department of Agriculture's Flock Testing Service to gain genetic progress in wool producing ability without loss of visual buyer appeal.

Studs' use of the service will be evaluated in 1974.

Sheep Meat Production Trial, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Better understanding of Middle- East, European and Asian market requirements for Australian sheep has influenced the design of a large meat production trial at Avondale Research Station.

The trial will supply basic information on sheep meat production and involves examples of breed types available in Western Australia and capable of supplying young, lean animals all the year round.

Later Mating Improves Lambing Results, R J. Suiter

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Ovulation studies in Western Australia have indicated that increased lambing percentages in crossbred and Merino ewes could be expected from mating in February-April rather than December- January.

Such increases have been demonstrated in time of lambing trials with crossbred ewes, but had not been seen in Merino flocks until recently.

This report summarises the results of time of lambing trials with Merinos carried out at the Merredin and Wongan Hills Research Stations between 1963 and 1969.

Causes Of Low Lambing Percentages, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

West Australian Merino flocks average about 70 per cent, lambs marked each year. Reasons for this low percentage are that as many as 30 per cent, of ewes do not lamb, twinning rates are low and from 10 to 25 per cent, of lambs born die.

Among the research projects by the Department of Agriculture's Sheep and Wool Branch have been a number directed at the various stages of reproduction in the ewe. These have given some important leads on the causes of low lambing percentages.

If you have marked less than 60 per cent, lambs in the past several …

Choosing Your Lambing Time, T Marshall

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

SHEEP, pastures and labour are the major resources of the sheep enterprise but their productivity is greatly affected by the timing of operations associated with them.

This article discusses how the lambing time can be chosen to get maximum use from each resource.

Special Field Days For Merino Breeders, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

More than 200 Merino stud breeders attended special stud breeding and fertility field days arranged for them by the Department of Agriculture recently.

Breeders attending represented some 40 per cent of the State's Merino studs.

Twinning Increases Production, K P. Croker

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Many breeders claim that twinning causes too many losses among Merino lambs and does not favour breeding for twin lamb production.

But recent experiments have proved otherwise and agricultural scientists now agree that . . .

TWINNING INCREASES PRODUCTION

THE low marking percentages regularly recorded for Merino flocks suggest that the Merino is a relatively infertile breed.

Certainly, lambing percentages are low when compared with those of most British breeds of sheep.

The Role Of Fleece Measurement In Selecting Merino Sheep, H G. Neil, R. J. Lightfoot

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

MANY things determine how much wool a sheep can grow.

These include the amount and quality of pasture available or how the sheep are fed, the stocking rate, the general health and thrift of the sheep and other management considerations such as cropping and the time of lambing.

Grow More Wool, W L. Mcgarry, R. J. Lightfoot

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE amount of wool that each sheep grows is determined by many things, including the amount and quality of pasture available or how the sheep are fed, the stocking rate, the general health and thrift of the sheep and other management considerations such as cropping and the time of lambing.

Select On Fleece Weight And Cull The Low Producers, W L. Mcgarry

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

EFFICIENT calling of maiden ewes before they join the breeding flock is an essential part of any policy of flock improvement.

Removal of the low wool producers should be one of the first considerations when culling the flock.

Selecting And Culling Sheep Flocks, H E. Fels

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

SHEEP flocks are culled and selected for two main reasons—firstly to get immediate improvements in the present generation and secondly, to improve future generations.

Fleece Weight : The Best Culling Guide, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Flock owners' thoughts are now turning towards culling.

Culling should remove the worst sheep and keep the best to fill the bales and breed replacements.

A valuable aid to this annual task is Culling by Fleece Weight during shearing

Famous Sheep Breeds. 6. The Southdown, J A. Mallett

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE chunky, low-set, meaty-carcassed Southdown is a popular breed wherever prime mutton and lamb are appreciated.

Just as the Dishley Leicester was used to improve most of the British longwool breeds, so an infusion of Southdown blood has benefited the majority of the British shortwool sheep whose main role is meat production