OPERATIONS

INF Site Advisory Groups have been established comprising local producers and ram breeders, to advise on local site management. The first meetings are at Katanning on 24 September, Cowra 1 October and Trangie 2 October, and a complete schedule of meetings across all sites is currently being prepared.

 

Use of some of AWI’s Falkiner ewes from the Sheep Genomics Program has been negotiated for inclusion in the Information Nucleus. A total of approximately 750 ewes have been transferred to Turretfield, Hamilton and Trangie as part of the IN program and ~250 to NSW DPI at Glen Innes for Sheep CRC related projects.

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:

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

 

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.

• 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.

Contact Details:
Dr Ken Geenty
Project Leader
Operations
Tel: 02 6773 1993
Email - kgeenty@une.edu.au