The sheep industry and genomics: Current opportunities, future potential Ben Hayes

Question: Is anything 100 times cheaper now than in 2006? No. ~ 3 times cheaper (if you’re lucky) No. ~ 20 times cheaper

The technology 50,000 DNA markers on a chip ~ 100 x cheaper than 6 years ago

Hard to measure, late in life Lean meat yield, number of lambs weaned Genomic breeding values: Pedigree “borrows” information from relatives “Borrow” information from animals with similar DNA profile For young rams, like having some progeny with records!

Recipe for success? The lesson from Dairy, beef, sheep Require large “reference” populations – Key traits measured (html) – DNA profiles evaluated with chip – Larger -> more accuracy Sheep CRC Information nucleus ideal! > 12,000 progeny

Accuracy of selection results in gain 6 Accuracy = 35%

Accuracy of selection results in gain 7 Accuracy = 35% Top 10 GEBV

8 Accuracy = 70% Top 10 GEBV Doubling accuracy is doubling gain!

Accuracies of genomic breeding values TraitTerminalMerinoBeef Post weaning wt Intra muscular fat Tenderness Iron Omega Adult fleece weight0.66 Adult fibre diameter0.76

Accuracies of genomic breeding values TraitTerminalMerinoBeef Post weaning wt Intra muscular fat Tenderness Iron Omega Adult fleece weight0.66 Adult fibre diameter0.76

Accuracies of genomic breeding values TraitTerminalMerinoBeef Post weaning wt Intra muscular fat Tenderness Iron Omega Adult fleece weight0.66 Adult fibre diameter0.76

Accuracies of genomic breeding values TraitBeefDairy Milk production0.78 Fertility Feed conversion0.42 Longevity0.64

 Without genomics $2 ewe / yr  With current genomics extra 10% $2.20 ewe / yr  After 7 years of Sheep CRC extra 30% $2.60 ewe / yr  Even greater in Merinos Economic benefit?

o Young sire programs More accurate selection of young rams o Juvenile in vitro embyro transfer (JIVET) Choose ewe lambs with genomic ASBVs! o Halve generation interval o Towards 100% increased gain ($4/ewe/yr)? Reduce generation interval?

Conclusions Rapid cost reduction DNA technology Accurate genomic breeding values Other traits on the way  Number of lambs weaned, Omega-3 Synergies young sire programs, JIVET Towards doubling rate of gain?