Strap: Genetic evaluation
Breakout: The essence of a measurement

The SGA evaluation service is nurturing an interesting exchange of identities among scientists and producers. While scientists have learnt to see the sheep genome through the producer’s eyes, participating producers are absorbing the scientist’s mania for objective measurements.

Andrew Burgess of Ruby Hills, a 5000-acre property near Walcha NSW, has been using genetic measurement for the past 16 years and can point to significant gains in fleece weight and worm resistance across his 6000 head fine and superfine Merino flock.

“I’m delighted to see the creation of SGA. Profitable genetic traits can now be directly identified and used to breed better sheep, at the same time as excluding non-heritable environmental variables,” he explains.

Ruby Hills sheep are compared on eight ASBVs and Mr Burgess has no doubt the approach enables him to improve his commercial and stud flocks.

“By measuring and generating ASBVs, I have the tools to select traits I want to prioritise and the gains I’ve achieved are substantial. For example, worm resistance across the Ruby Hills flock is -24 compared with the national average of +4.

“Since SGA has combined all Australian data, this new database is more robust and provides more accurate comparisons. Collecting the information does cost a little bit more but the expense isn’t onerous given the benefits.”

Mr Burgess reports good adoption rates from New England stud breeders who are driving the use of the technology and educating their clients about how to use it to their advantage.

“Beef studs and commercial bull buyers have been using breeding values for two decades, so it is exciting that sheep studs and commercial ram buyers now have the same opportunities to objectively assess and compare breeding stock.”

View latest genetic trends for Ruby Hills Flock as pdf