Throughout 2025–26, the Sheep Genetics team engaged with breeders, commercial producers, service providers, breed associations, researchers, advisors and students to support genetic improvement across the Australian sheep industry.
Engagement was delivered through breeder-group workshops, conferences, field days, webinars, training activities, client visits and tailored flock support. These activities helped industry participants better understand and use Sheep Genetics products and services, strengthen recording practices and data quality, and apply objective genetic information within practical breeding decisions.
A major focus during the year was supporting industry through the release and continued development of Combined LAMBPLAN. The team delivered supporting resources, webinars and direct assistance to help breeders and service providers understand the new analysis and interpret their results.
Dates
Impact and Outcomes
Sheep Genetics continued to work closely with Performance Breeder Groups to share genetic evaluation developments, strengthen recording and data quality, and explore opportunities to accelerate genetic gain.
The 2025–26 program brought together highly engaged breeders, Sheep Genetics staff, researchers and industry partners. These events created opportunities to discuss analysis developments, current research, emerging industry priorities and the practical application of genetic information within breeding programs.
The Maternal Performance Group engaged producers representing 53.8% of the Maternal analysis, with participant feedback demonstrating the value of the event.
Performance Breeder Groups also provide an important avenue for two-way communication. Breeders receive direct access to technical updates, while their experience and feedback help Sheep Genetics identify industry needs, data-quality priorities and opportunities for further development.
Dates
Impact and Outcomes
The annual Service Provider Workshop brought together genetics advisors, data managers, software providers, genomic service providers and other industry professionals who support Sheep Genetics clients.
The workshop provided updates on Sheep Genetics analyses, products and services. It also created opportunities to discuss data quality, recording and submission processes, client support and recurring issues affecting breeders.
Service providers play an important role in helping breeders collect, manage and interpret information submitted to Sheep Genetics. Strengthening the capability of this network supports more consistent data quality and helps breeders make effective use of their analysis results.
Dates
Impact and Outcomes
The 2026 workshop brought together accredited scanners to assess measurement consistency, refine scanning techniques and maintain the standards required for collecting ultrasound fat and eye muscle depth measurements.
Accredited scanners form an important part of the Sheep Genetics data-quality framework. Consistent and accurately collected measurements improve the quality of information available for genetic evaluation and support the delivery of reliable Australian Sheep Breeding Values.
Supporting industry through the transition to Combined LAMBPLAN was a major focus during 2025–26.
Combined LAMBPLAN was released on 27 August 2025, bringing the Terminal and Maternal LAMBPLAN analyses into a single multibreed genetic evaluation for non-Merino breed types.
Ahead of the release, Sheep Genetics delivered an online webinar attended by more than 100 people. The session was co-presented with researchers from the Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit who were involved in developing the analysis.
Content from the webinar was subsequently adapted into a series of shorter videos, providing breeders and service providers with accessible supporting information.
Follow-up engagement was delivered for Performance Breeder Groups and service providers. These sessions focused on interpreting flock-level summaries and comparing results from the previous Terminal or Maternal analyses with Combined LAMBPLAN.
Additional components were delivered progressively during the year, including the Combined LAMBPLAN Lambing Ease and reproduction modules and supporting materials.
Combined LAMBPLAN was also discussed through breed conferences, industry workshops, client visits and direct breeder support, giving clients opportunities to ask questions and understand the implications for their flocks.
Throughout 2025–26, the Sheep Genetics team maintained a strong presence across the sheep industry through conferences, agricultural shows, field days, producer events, breed association activities, webinars, workshops, university sessions and direct client visits.
These activities provided opportunities to engage directly with seedstock breeders, commercial producers, service providers, advisors, students and researchers.
The team shared developments in genetic evaluation, supported the practical use of Australian Sheep Breeding Values and indexes, promoted effective recording and data quality, and gathered feedback about the needs of Sheep Genetics clients.
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Event |
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July 2025 |
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August 2025 |
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September 2025 |
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October 2025 |
Ongoing breeder support, client meetings, and industry engagement activities. |
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November 2025 |
Ongoing breeder support, client meetings, and industry engagement activities. |
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December 2025 |
Ongoing breeder support, client meetings, and industry engagement activities. |
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January 2026 |
Planning and preparation for the 2026 event and extension program |
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February 2026
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March 2026 |
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April 2026 |
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May 2026 |
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June 2026 |
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Sheep Genetics Development Officers continued to provide direct support to breeders throughout 2025–26 through telephone calls, emails, online meetings, industry events, workshops and on-farm visits.
Client engagement focused on improving data quality and submissions, helping clients use ASBVs and commercial genetic-selection tools, and supporting breeding decisions that contribute to genetic gain.
Development Officers also conducted tailored consultations with individual flocks. These discussions covered areas including:
The team maintained regular engagement with Sheep Genetics clients across the year, combining broad industry extension with targeted support tailored to the needs of individual breeding programs.
Building knowledge and confidence in genetic selection among students and emerging livestock professionals remained an important part of Sheep Genetics engagement during 2025–26.Sheep Genetics delivered lectures and practical learning activities that connected genetic principles with real-world breeding decisions.
At Marcus Oldham, students learned about quantitative genetics and the practical application of genetic tools. The session included an activity using the Sheep Genetics website to identify sires aligned with a defined breeding objective.Sheep Genetics also supported university teaching at the University of New England. A practical session gave students experience navigating Sheep Genetics information and using objective genetic information in breeding decisions.These education activities help build future industry capability by developing students’ understanding of ASBVs, breeding objectives, genetic selection tools and the value of genetic improvement to sheep enterprises.
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