03/S03 Extension - Benchmarking the link between value export cuts and genetic traits

Summary

Genetic progress in the Australian Sheepmeat industry was underpinned by a selection of and breeding from rams with Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs), however, the dollar value of using these ASBVs was not passed on to commercial and seed-stock producers. In order to realise greater financial returns from genetic gain a group of seedstock producers (Accelerator Group) identified the need to measure the benefit of genetic improvements throughout the supply chain. 

 To achieve financial recognition for this genetic gain from the processing sector, the group aimed to quantify the dollar value of particular traits that may increase returns to the processing sector, stock agents, White Suffolk and Poll Dorset seedstock and prime lamb producers using those sires.

First cross Border Leicester / Merino ewes were inseminated with semen from a range of White Suffolk sires and one Poll Dorset sire that were selected as a result of demonstrating superior ASBVs or having been widely used in the industry up to 2003.

The progeny were slaughtered at 160 days of age having achieved export weights and the following traits were measured for each lamb: hot standard carcase weight, subjective fat score, fat depth, length of carcase, width of loin and rib to rump length. Also measured as an average across each sire, was the weight of shoulder, shin, neck, leg, trim, loin, rack, caps, flaps caps, flaps and length of loin.