Woolwise News Edition 4
29 March, 2001

LATEST SELECTION DEMONSTRATION FIELD DAY A HUGE SUCCESS
SARDI's Selection Demonstration Flock Field Day at Turretfield held on Tuesday 27th March 2001 was a huge success, with over 150 participants coming from all over the country, and also some international visitors. This event has national significance, as evidenced by the participation on Col Dorber, Managing Director of the new research and development company, Australian Wool Innovation Ltd. 

Many high quality speakers from around the country outlined how progress could be made in Merino genetics. Dr Sue Hatcher (NSW Agriculture) and Ms Cheryl Pope (PIRSA) discussed growing fine wools in non traditional areas, both cereal or pastoral. Dale Cameron from Tatiara Meat Company and Dr Alex Ball (Lambplan) gave different perspectives on producing high quality meat products from Merinos. Dr Bronwyn Clarke (Agriculture WA) and Dr Janelle Hocking Edwards (PIRSA) outlined developments in genetic technologies to maximise gain and information while Sue Hatcher described another selection demonstration flock, Trangie Q-Plu$ on behalf of Alex Russell from NSW Agriculture. 

In brief, the Selection Demonstration Flock project compares three selection strategies to a randomly selected control line. Each selection strategy aims to improve the profitability of South Australian Merino sheep, by genetic improvement expressed as reduced fibre diameter, and maintained or improved wool quality, fleece weight, liveweight and reproductive rate. The MPR group uses objectively measured performance records as the criteria for selection along with some visual assessment of wool and body faults. The PCA group represents professional classer assessment, whereby selection is mainly based on sheep classer assessment of wool quality and quantity, with occasional and non-systematic use of objectively measured data. The EWF group or elite wool flock aims to use a package of visual and tactile qualities known as "Soft Rolling Skin" to make sheep selections, along with some use of objective measurement, and allocation of sires to ewes in a corrective mating approach. The project commenced in late 1996, with first lambs being produced in 1997. Outside rams were available to each of the groups at the first two matings and thereafter, ram selection were made from within the progeny of each flock. 

Results from the 1999 drop lamb progeny (the first year of use of replacement sires bred from within each flock) were presented by Dr Raul Ponzoni. He provided a summary of what the results mean for woolgrowers.

• The results obtained for the 1999 drop were generally consistent with (but not always identical to) those reported earlier for the 1997 and 1998 drop sheep
  
• The selection flocks achieve a significant gain in wool quality (mainly reduced fibre diameter, standard deviation of fibre diameter, and fibres greater than 30 microns). Note that for the 1999 drop the reduction in fibre diameter with respect to the control group was greater (average of 1.7 microns) than for the 1997 or 1998 drops (average difference between selection flocks and control of 1.6 microns in the 1997 drop and of 1.0 micron in the 1998 drop)
  
• The improvement in wool quality was accompanied by gain in the quantity of wool produced. The average difference between the selection flocks and the controls was 0.24kg and 0.23kg for the 1997 and 1998 drops, respectively, and it increased to 0.49kg for the 1999 drop
  
• There was no evidence of either deterioration or improvement in the variation between the mid-side and "pin area" for a number of wool quality traits
  
• Of the three composite traits presumed to be associated with processing performance or with garment quality, two (spinning fineness and the Softdex Index) showed a significant improvement, whereas the third one (fibre curvature) did not
  
• There were no important changes in live weight and carcase traits
  
• The gain in the objectively measured wool traits was generally accompanied by a small improvement in subjectively assessed wool, skin and body characteristics. Note, however that all the selection flocks had the greater values for neck wrinkles and body wrinkles than the controls, but differences were small

The vital statistics (fibre diameter, clean fleece weight, ram fleece value $/head and ewe fleece value $/head) of the 1999 drop lambs (taken from their shearing in October 2000) were:
Control FD = 22.4 micron, CFW = 4.70kg, rams $24.12, ewes $22.44
MPR FD = 20.5 micron, CFW = 5.25kg, rams $33.99, ewes $32.15
PCA FD = 20.8 micron, CFW = 5.04kg, rams $30.14, ewes $30.88
EWF FD = 20.7 micron, CFW = 5.28kg, rams $31.97, ewes $32.15
Each selection group was significantly different from the control, but not from each other. Dr Ponzoni summarised the success of all of the selection strategies thus far, by saying that "having a clear breeding objective may be more important than arguing about selection procedures" for achieving that goal. 
For further information, or a copy of the proceedings of the day (which includes papers by all the speakers, and results for the 1999 drop sheep), or to be included on the SARDI Selection Demonstration Flock mailing list, please contact:

Dr Raul Ponzoni
Principal Research Scientist 
(Livestock Breeding and Genetics)
SARDI, Livestock Systems Alliance
Roseworthy Campus
Roseworthy SA 5371
Ph 08 8303 7623
Fax 08 8303 7689
Email ponzoni.raul@saugov.sa.gov.au
Or
Mrs Kaylene Jaensch
Agricultural Officer
SARDI
Turretfield Research Centre
Rosedale SA 5350
Ph 08 8524 9017
Fax 08 8524 9088
Email jaensch.kaylene@saugov.sa.gov.au

Visit the website at www.sardi.sa.gov.au/livestck/sheep/select.htm

ANOTHER POSITIVE VALUE-ADDING STORY
This time, the value is being added to a by-product of wool processing, rather than the wool itself. If you weren't able to catch the recent ABC Landline story called "By-product bonus as lanolin takes off", then read the story for yourself at www.abc.net.au/landline/stories/s263646.htm. It details the superior lubrication, water-proofing and corrosive protection properties of a lubricant developed from lanolin, that is proving to be a big hit with mechanics and boaties, as well as the heavy transport and construction industries. 

INTERNAL PARASITES IN PASTORAL DISTRICTS
Internal parasites are often thought of as only a scourge of the high rainfall districts. However there have been widespread outbreaks of worms in the pastoral districts of Queensland as a result of good rainfall seasons. Arthur Le Feuvre from QDPI at Warwick, kindly supplied the Wormbuster Report. It states in part:

"Barber's pole worm continues to punish pastoral flocks/herds from Cunnamulla to Winton. There was also one confirmed high egg count from Julia Creek. This situation reinforces the need for producers to raise the quality of their worm management strategies. Producers in these districts need to be conducting a Wormcheck every 6 weeks minimum, particularly if returning sheep to the same paddock after drenching. There is also strong anecdotal evidence that producers are not using appropriate drenches - meaning they are not achieving maximum control for minimum cost. Cost has got nothing to do with efficiency."

Workshops on worm management will be conducted for producers across Queensland in the near future.

Arthur Le Feuvre,
QDPI Extension Officer
Locked Bag 17
Warwick Qld 4370
Ph 07 4661 6600 or 0407 641 298
Fax 07 4661 5329
Email LeFeuvA@prose.dpi.qld.gov.au