Genomic development

The science

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) contains the instructions used in the development and functioning of living organisms. The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes.

Genomics is the study of the genomes or the full set of genes or chromosomes of an organism. Genomic development refers to selection for genetic improvement in key traits based on the assessment of an animal's DNA from as early as birth.

Gene markers

Gene markers can identify the actual piece of DNA, or the genes, that affect particular traits. They also provide a means of assessing the genetic merit of an animal through the identification of individual genes of interest and have the potential to allow the industry to identify and select animals for specific traits.

Gene marker research is identifying and examining genes that influence a range of traits important to production. Researchers are now analysing the relationship between these molecular breeding values and Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs) for the same traits.

In the future it is likely that there will be sets of markers available that can describe more complex traits such as parasite resistance and energy utilisation.

The practical application

By unlocking the secrets to sheep genes, producers will have an enhanced capacity to meet breeding objectives and increase overall productivity and profitability through:

• Access to new tools to manage internal and external parasites.
• The introduction of new technologies, such as the development of vaccines to combat diseases.
• Enabling more accurate selection of sheep for production efficiency, wool quality, carcase and meat eating quality.

The expected benefits of genomic research include:

• Increased meat and wool yield.
• Reduced chemical treatment costs.
• Reduced disease incidence through the development of new vaccines.

Current research and development priorities include gene markers to:

• Identify animals resistant to internal parasites, enabling producers to breed healthier sheep and lambs, improve productivity and reduce chemical treatments.
• Enable producers to selectively breed sheep and lambs for improved meat and wool quality.
• Identify more efficient animals that will enable sheep bred to produce more meat and wool from less pasture.