ADVANCED BREEDING TECHNIQUES FOR WOOL SHEEP IMPROVEMENT

Many recently-developed breeding techniques are knocking on the doors of Australian Merino studs. Studmasters on the inside are often unsure whether to welcome a new technology as a powerful ally for genetic improvement or to raise the drawbridge against possible genetic and financial disaster. This paper presents the central conclusions of a major report on this subject by Goddard et al. (1994). Whatever breeding methods are to be used, accurate evaluation of animals will remain the cornerstone of genetic improvement. Artificial insemination has proved to be most useful in daughter or multiplier studs, to speed the transfer of genetic gains between parent studs and commercial flocks. Multiple ovulation and embryo transfer is a more complex and expensive technique, which must be used wisely. It has the capacity to increase rates of genetic gain in parent stud flocks which will then flow down to industry. Embryo splitting and marker-assisted selection are newer techniques which may become common in parent studs over the next ten years if costs are reasonable. Embryo cloning for mass production is likely to be available within ten years while use of transgenic animals is at least ten years away from practical application. However, each could have dramatic effects on sheep breeding and wool production if the ideas can be turned into reality.