Cooperative Research Centre for Sheep Industry Innovation

The Cooperative Research Centre for Sheep Industry Innovation (Sheep CRC) was established for a term of seven years with effect from July 2007 until June 2014 to undertake a program of research and delivery of innovation to the Australian sheep industry. The role of the CRC is to facilitate transformation of the sheep industry through making sheep easier to manage, developing the production and processing of meat and wool to meet increasing consumer expectations and by increasing the uptake of new technologies by the industry.

Autumn Update

Review of progress across the portfolio at our March planning meeting indicates that we are well on track to deliver the agreed outcomes for the CRC. In most areas the focus is now shifting to delivery of CRC products and information in order to get the required levels of industry use and impact.

The meeting also dealt with the transition and exit strategies for the CRC as these aspects of the CRC become increasingly important during our final two years.  During May and June we will be finalising the Operational Plan for Financial Year 2013 and input from all Participants will be important in completing this task.

Suggestions for a five year CRC extension application were very constructive and there was general agreement that the focus should be on the next generation of genomic technologies set to dramatically reduce the cost of genotyping.

It is also clear that better use of reproductive technologies will be needed to accelerate the spread of top genetics through the industry. In the area of meat quality the focus will be on better understanding flavour components as well as developing abattoir automation for research data collection.

For Information Nucleus updates and to find out about the CRC's delivery of new information and products click here.

Professor James Rowe, CEO