Latest Updates
A number of “follower” sheep bred from Information Nucleus flocks will be retained within those flocks for potential areas of ongoing research including nutritional efficiency, lifetime reproduction, lifetime wool production, methane emissions and adult disease resistance.
Site Advisory groups at each of the eight Information Nucleus sites are providing constructive feedback from their industry members regarding the Information Nucleus program and the broader CRC delivery.
About the Project
The Information Nucleus provides the basic sheep resources for the other CRC research programs. The Information Nucleus is a population of approximately 5000 ewes and their progeny bred from key young industry sires selected for high performance, likely to have industry impact and have genetic variation for a range of traits. The Information Nucleus is managed in several flocks across a range of Australian production environments, with a new sample of sires selected each year. The matings represent the major sheep types in the industry and generate Merino (MxM), Border Leicester X Merino (BLxM) and Terminal first (TxM) and second cross progeny (TxBLM). Each year 100 young sires with SGA information are selected and mated by AI using frozen semen across all sites. The approximate numbers of sires and ewes mated annually and progeny of each type are shown in the following Table.
Numbers of sires, ewes mated and progeny annually in the Information Nucleus:
Sires Ewes Progeny Retained Slaughter
40 Merino (M) 2000 M 1500 MxM 750 750
20 Border Leicester (BL) 1000 M 750 BLxM 375 375
40 Terminal (T) 1000 M 750 TxM - 750
Total 5000 3750 1125 2625
The phenotypes of the progeny are evaluated for a large number of growth, carcass, meat, wool, reproduction and disease traits. The crossbred lambs are grown out and slaughtered in processing plants with industry partners as part of Program 3. Detailed information on carcass and meat traits, meat yield and samples for laboratory testing will be collected. The MxM progeny are evaluated for a wide range of wool performance including new and novel traits as part of Program 2 with the wethers subsequently slaughtered for carcass and meat evaluation. The MxM and BLxM ewes are retained and mated naturally to evaluate reproduction and maternal traits. Blood and tissue samples will also be collected for genotyping and the molecular genetic studies.
The Information Nucleus is managed by 5 (1000 ewes each) of the research parties (UNE, NSW DPI, DPI Vic, SARDI and DAFWA) with 3 operating as split sites. The sites are at Kirby, Armidale (UNE), Cowra and Trangie (NSW DPI), Rutherglen and Hamilton (DPI Vic), Turretfield and Struan (SADI) and Katanning (WADAF), which cover the major sheep environments in Australia.
The objective of this Project is to:
- undertake the matings for the Information Nucleus at each site;
- to develop and ensure implementation of protocols for management and core measurements for the Information Nucleus and coordination across the sites;
- to coordinate and facilitate research activities of the Management, Wool and Meat programs within the Information Nucleus; and
- to conduct Open Days and other communication activities in conjunction with other research programs.
Some of the benefits of the Information Nucleus will flow immediately to industry through enhanced accuracy of the ASBVs provided by Sheep Genetics (SG), as the progeny test data will be included in routine SG genetic evaluations in industry. The longer term benefits to industry will flow from development of sheep genomic technologies such as molecular ASBVs combined with existing quantitative ASBVs for various traits and validation of individual gene tests, which will improve the rate of response to selection in industry as well as providing opportunities for breeders to select for new traits and those that are difficult to measure.
The Information Nucleus will also provide a base resource for the other research programs. These include animals of known genetic background for evaluation of growth, carcass, wool, reproduction and disease resistance. The range of locations and environments provide opportunities for road testing, demonstration and application of technologies from the programs and point of contact with a wide range of producers. The Information Nucleus will provide considerable opportunities for road testing and demonstration of the application of new technology. A particular focus will be involvement of various stakeholder and producer networks eg. the suppliers of sire semen.
CJ Hawkins Homestead, University of New England, Armidale NSW 2351