Breaking down a perception-driven market with objective genetic data was the impetus for sheep breeders Andrew and Barbara Read to conceive an idea which has now been realised in the form of the Sheep CRC’s DNA Flock Profile test.
The Reads, from “Oak Hills”, Nangus, NSW, first approached Sheep CRC chief executive James Rowe two years ago at a producer field day with the idea of developing a DNA test to profile the genetic merit of a commercial ewe flock.
“We had been buying high index Merino rams in the top 5% bracket, but it became clear that there was no way to market the quality of their progeny to other people,” Mr Read said.
“The store markets were operating on reputation and hearsay and wishful thinking, and we found that people didn’t chase our stock because we were new players. And as a buyer on the store market I had found how flukey it was to get stock of verifiable genetic quality.
“With all of those vagaries, we simply put two and two together and said to the CRC, ‘If you can DNA test rams, why can’t you test a commercial ewe flock as well so we can verify in the market place the quality of our stock?’”
The Cooperative Research Centre for Sheep Industry Innovation (Sheep CRC), operates as part of the Federal Department of Industry, Innovation and Science’s CRC program. It is a collaboration of more than 40 organisations from across industry, government and the commercial sector, and includes producer groups, farm advisers, universities and research organisations, meat processors and retailers.
It has developed a range of DNA tests to drive faster and more affordable genetic improvement, with the DNA Flock Profiler its most recent product. It is currently in the final stages of field trials ahead of an anticipated full commercial release to Merino breeders in 2017.