RESEARCH PROGRAMS
The goal of the Sheep CRC is to move the sheep industry from its recent 0.6% annual gain in productivity to a 3-5% annual gain for it to match and even surpass industries such as cropping and cattle production.
The Sheep CRC is working towards this goal by drawing together key scientists and industry specialists from across Australia to address select issues within four research areas.
The key research areas are:
Making sheep businesses more profitable and sustainable by addressing the key issues of:
- Labour efficiency
- Reproductive efficiency
- Parasite control
- Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
Developing new markets for Australian apparel wool by:
- Delivering the tools to guarantee next-to-skin comfort and handle of knitted fabrics and garments
- Improving the whiteness and photostability attributes of Australian wool
Increase the profitability of the sheep meat sector by:
- Increasing the lean meat yield of sheep
- Raising consumer demand by building on lamb’s key virtues of eating quality to include human nutritional benefits
A world first innovation for sheep, the Information Nucleus will provide:
- New information about traits and their use to accelerate genetic gain in the sheep industry
- Linkage between three core research programs of the Sheep CRC
CJ Hawkins Homestead, University of New England, Armidale NSW 2351