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Breech Wrinkle
Breech wrinkle breeding values have been developed due to the large impact of the trait on breech strike, ongoing research will see the release of further breeding values for additional indicators of breech fly strike.
Wrinkle ASBVs have been developed by using breech and body wrinkle score data collected from MERINOSELECT subscriber flocks, Sire Evaluation sites, the Sheep CRC Information Nucleus and the AWI breech strike research flocks. Combining this data has meant that more accurate genetic parameters can be estimated, as well as the impact of non-genetic effects on its expression.
Using Breech Trait ASBVs
Provided the data you submit to Sheep Genetics is linked and of high enough accuracy, you will receive breech wrinkle ASBVs for animals that have been scored. Breech wrinkle ASBVs are expressed as a deviation, with a more negative breeding value indicating less breech wrinkle.
Because ASBVs can monitor genetic progress over time, the change in breech wrinkle can be observed alongside progress in other major production traits through genetic trends (Fig 1)
This is an important tool, not just for breeders who want to make sure production levels continue to move in the right direction, but also to demonstrate to the international community the genetic progress being made in Australian Merinos.
Early Breech Wrinkle ASBVs will be reported back to breeders as part of their standard reports, and will be publicly available through the Sheep Genetics web search engine and trait leader lists. There are currently over 14,000 2008 drop animals with an EBWR ASBV.
Breeding tool launched to help beat flystrike - AWI Media Release
Andrew Burgess, Ruby Hills Merino Stud - Media Release
What are Breech ASBVS and how to use them
Scoring Breech Traits - Anne Ramsay (Autumn 09 Breeders Bulletin)
Breeding for Breech Strike Resistance - Dr Jen Smith CSIRO (Spring 08 Breeders Bulletin)