Livestock Genetics research and development

The Resource Flock is a crucial research & development project that underpins the entire Sheep Genetics evaluation. The Resource Flock project involves artificially inseminating ewes to multiple sire breeds and managing the progeny in the same environment to evaluate their performance, with trait measurements for important production traits measured on progeny as well as all progeny having a genotype.  Data collected from the Resource Flock has significantly resulted in improvements in linkage, the size of the genomic reference, the development of ASBVs for hard to measure traits, and improved accuracy from genomic predictions. All flocks within the Sheep Genetics evaluation benefit from the Resource Flock through linkages, with positive impacts on flocks that record and submit phenotypes and/or genotypes. As all progeny are genotyped, the Resource Flock is a key enabler of the development of additional commercial genomic projects and products like Flock Profiles and genomic breeding values.   

The Genetics team currently has the 2025 and 2026 joinings contracted for the Resource Flock. The 2025-26 joinings are covered by a MLA Donor Company (MDC) model, meaning that Government funding received by MLA is matched to the investment from other income streams from companies including the University of New England, Murdoch University, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, and a small portion from Sheep Genetics client fees. For the 2025-26 joinings, there are 115 sires for each joining which include a large range of breeds from Terminal, Maternal, Merion and shedding sire breeds.   

The Resource Flock project is part of a larger livestock genetics strategy developed by the National Livestock Genetics Consortium (NLGC). The NLGC is a taskforce which includes representatives from producers (beef and sheep), breed societies, researchers, supply chains, processors, and adoption/extension experts. Representatives help set strategy priorities through advising on ways to increase the rate of genetic progress achieved in the sheep and beef industries.

The OVIS Consent Project is a significant project covered under the Livestock Genetics R&D portfolio, and includes the development required to run the routine Sheep Genetics evaluation, as well as additional R&D projects for future breeding values and genetics tools. Some of such projects include understanding the genetic variation in shedding characteristics of sheep to develop a shedding breeding value, develop genomic prediction tools for commercial Merino sheep, Flock Profile Accuracy, the Combined LAMBPLAN analysis, as well as sustainability and welfare projects.