Latest Updates
A national survey was completed and highlighted that most respondents ranked easy-care traits and selecting Merino ram replacements that are well suited to the production system and climate as important or very important. About 30% of producers indicated that they used ASBVs to select Merino ram replacements but further training and building confidence in the predictable performance of ASBVs in local environments could boost adoption rates to over 50%. A full analysis of the survey data is still in progress and will inform communication and training/adoption programs related to sheep genetics and climate adaptation during Q3 and Q4.
Three sheep production systems have been analysed economically using Ausfarm models. Modified animal models are now being implemented to establish the whole farm value of selection for growth and muscling.
A total of 30 Managing Scanned Ewe Workshops for clients of pregnancy scanners were completed in QLD, NSW, VIC, SA and WA during 2009. These workshops involved more than 600 producers responsible for managing >1 million ewes, and about 10 pregnancy scanning businesses.
The number of groups undertaking Life Time Ewe Management training is continuing to grow with some 30 new groups expected to be formed during 2010.
A High Performance Weaner course has been piloted in 6 groups and the feedback will be used to modify course design and materials by June 2010. The analysis of weaner management strategies has been completed and the results will be included in the course design.
Two reproduction demonstration sites were established near Orange, NSW. These will develop clear and agreed messages on the value of retaining older ewes plus demonstrate other reproduction messages. Another two demonstration sites are under consideration.
The evaluation of the Wormboss website has been completed and there have been positive steps with AWI to address concerns regarding website appeal and ease of navigation.
The new FlyBoss website is under development for launch during February 2010.
The Haemonchus Detection (dipstick) test was launched by the Sheep CRC partner, Ancare/Merial, in October in Orange, NSW. With the very high summer rainfall in north western NSW and Queensland, the test has proven very timely in combating rapid growth of the Haemonchus worm burden. Purchasers must first undertake training in dipstick use from a company representative before they can receive the kit, to ensure the careful procedure required to achieve accurate results is well understood and followed. Initial producer feedback has been very positive.
The targeted worm treatment work project is progressing well with trials completed in the New England region and a product plan for production launch under development. Three research sites are also now managed by the South Australian team, with a full review planned for early February 2010.
With high public interest in carbon emissions, the methane emissions project continued to generate a large number of media articles, radio and more recently TV interviews.
The modelling work to identify management and genetic solutions to managing emissions has been completed and communication plan is under development. Short-term methane production has been measured on more than 1200 sheep from the Sheep Genomics flock at Falkiner and the Katanning IN flock, and a third Western Australian flock will be screened in Jan/Feb-2010. Preliminary heritability estimates vary between the two flocks screened (30% and 11%, respectively) but the phenotypic standard deviation is large indicating opportunities to breed for lower methane production. An analysis of the correlations between the short-term methane phenotype and other production traits will be completed after screening of the third flock in WA. Extreme individuals or progeny groups identified in the flock screening in NSW and WA will be retested using the short-term method before being validated in methane chambers in early 2010.
If sire differences are confirmed, the animals will be used for measurement of Net Feed Intake and for examining the underlying biology and microbial ecology of animals differing in their methane production.
Introductory PSM webinar training course materials have been developed and piloted, with webinar training to begin in February.
Rural Industries Skills Training (RIST) have provided a proposal for developing a practical, hands-on PSM Introduction course based on the PSM MasterClass material and similar to Life Time Ewe Management, to run over 4 one day sessions across a 6 month period with groups of up to 10 participants. The course will be piloted in 3Q 2010 and the first training groups will start in July. It is expected the course will be eligible for Farm Ready funding.
PSM licensing is underway. Flock management software and hardware companies will be licensed to embed the PSM software products into their proprietary systems to expand PSM usage. Service providers will also be licensed to support PSM uptake and be listed on the CRC website.
Commercial producers have indicated demand for a low-cost method of regularly obtaining flock average weigh and standard deviation to enable more timely management decisions, for example, during feed deficit periods. A Walk Over Weighing system which does not require use of RFID tags is under development, with a completion target of June. Discussions on prototype designed have been undertaken.
CJ Hawkins Homestead, University of New England, Armidale NSW 2351