DATA which backs up profitable sheep flocks is being unveiled in a national trial.
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The trail aims to help producers run more efficient operations and a satellite flock is being assessed at Temora in southern NSW.
Temora Agricultural Innovation Centre (TAIC) is hosting a Satellite Flock under the Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) Resource Flock Database collecting data on DNA predictions.
Well-known sheep industry stalwart Murray Long of Clear View Consulting will run the trial alongside FarmLink Research.
Mr Long runs the sheep enterprises at Temora Agricultural Innovation Centre.
He said the new research was important for the sheep industry and also for the centre at Temora.
Mr Long gained the contract to conduct the project on behalf of Temora Agricultural Innovation Centre and FarmLink, following on from his long association with the Sheep CRC.
He will manage the satellite flock of 230 White Suffolk ewes, which will be joined in February using Artificial Insemination (AI) to a selection of Poll Dorset, White Suffolk, Southdown and Suffolk sires that have been nominated and selected from studs throughout the industry.
Extensive measurement will be conducted on the lambs produced from this joining.
Mr Long said the lambs will then be sent to a processor where a range of carcase evaluations will be conducted including lean meat yield, intra-muscular fat, tenderness, fatty acid profile and nutritional content, and this information will be fed into the MLA funded Resource Flock Database.
FarmLink chief executive officer, Cindy Cassidy, said the association with Clear View Consulting provided FarmLink with the perfect opportunity to further develop its strength in livestock research, development and extension.
“With Murray developing one of the first satellite flocks under the Meat and Llivestock Australia Resource Flock Database, it is a wonderful opportunity for FarmLink to be involved in exciting research which will not only benefit our members, but the sheep industry Australia-wide,” Mrs Cassidy said.
