Australian Sheep

1879 ◽  
Vol 8 (199supp) ◽  
pp. 3163-3163
Keyword(s):  
Australian Sheep

Improving sheep production and welfare in extensive systems through precision sheep management

2012 ◽  
Vol 52 (7) ◽  
pp. 665 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica E. Morris ◽  
Greg M. Cronin ◽  
Russell D. Bush
Keyword(s):  
Radio Frequency ◽  
Radio Frequency Identification ◽  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Sheep Industry ◽  
Monitoring Frequency ◽  
Frequency Identification ◽  
Australian Sheep ◽  
Sheep Production ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Improve Production Efficiency

This overview discusses how precision sheep management could be utilised in the Australian sheep industry to improve production efficiency and reduce animal welfare concerns due to low monitoring frequency by stockpeople. The concept of precision sheep management is described. This is a system in which sheep are managed as individuals or small groups rather than as a (whole) flock. Precision sheep management utilises the application of radio frequency identification technology, enabling producers to better monitor sheep in extensive situations, and contribute to improved efficiency of management and sheep welfare. Examples of combining radio frequency identification with other technologies such as walk-over-weighing and Pedigree Matchmaker are discussed. These technologies provide producers with tools to improve the cost effectiveness of, and labour efficiency associated with, collecting data on individual animals. The combined technologies should also improve consistency and reliability of information, enhancing decision-making by producers, for example, from regular monitoring of biometric variables such as liveweight, or calculating breeding values to enable superior genetic comparisons over time.

The Australian sheep industry - undergoing transformation

2010 ◽  
Vol 50 (12) ◽  
pp. 991 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. B. Rowe
Keyword(s):  
New Technologies ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Genetic Selection ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Meat Production ◽  
Sheep Industry ◽  
Sheep Meat ◽  
Productivity Gain ◽  
Australian Sheep ◽  
Meat Market

Changes in the sheep industry over the last 20 years represent a trend that is unlikely to be reversed. The farm gate value of wool production has decreased from over $6 billion to ~$2.5 billion and the value of sheep meat has increased from $0.5 to $2.2 billion. Wool and meat are now on an equal footing in terms of the economic value of each sector of the industry. Future profitability of both wool and sheep meat production depends on achieving a high rate of productivity gain and improving quality attributes valued by consumers. Wool and sheep meat cannot compete on price or volume with synthetics and cotton in the textile market or with chicken and pork in the meat market. Differentiation based on quality and consistency needs to be measurable and clearly understood by consumers. The combination of genetic selection and good management can deliver improved productivity gain. Skills development and training will be essential for the industry to fully utilise available knowledge and new technologies.

scholarly journals Diazinon resistance, fluctuating asymmetry and fitness in the Australian sheep blowfly, lucilia cuprina.

Genetics ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 120 (1) ◽  
pp. 213-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
J A McKenzie ◽  
G M Clarke
Keyword(s):  
Fluctuating Asymmetry ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Lucilia Cuprina ◽  
Resistance Locus ◽  
Gene Complex ◽  
Subsequent Evolution ◽  
Genetic Analyses ◽  
Evolution Of Resistance ◽  
Australian Sheep ◽  
Chromosome Iii

Abstract Genetic evidence suggests that the evolution of resistance to the insecticide diazinon in Lucilia cuprina initially produced an increase in asymmetry. At that time resistant flies were presumed to be at a selective disadvantage in the absence of diazinon. Subsequent evolution in natural populations selected modifiers to ameliorate these effects. The fitness and fluctuating asymmetry levels of resistant flies are currently similar to those of susceptibles. Previous genetic analyses have shown the fitness modifier to co-segregate with the region of chromosome III marked by the white eyes, w, locus, unlinked to the diazinon resistance locus, Rop-1, on chromosome IV. This study maps the asymmetry modifier to the same region, shows, as in the case of the fitness modifier, its effect to be dominant and presents data consistent with the fitness/asymmetry modifier being the same gene (gene complex). These results suggest changes in fluctuating asymmetry reflect changes in fitness.

scholarly journals Genetic Analysis of Field Trials of Sex-linked Translocation Strains for Genetic Control of the Australian Sheep Blowfly Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann)

1985 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 275 ◽  
Author(s):  
GG Foster ◽  
WG Vogt ◽  
TL Woodburn
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Analysis ◽  
Genetic Control ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Lucilia Cuprina ◽  
Native Population ◽  
Australian Sheep ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Progeny Tests ◽  
Release Method

The results of progeny tests of males and females captured during two field trials of sex-linked translocation strains for genetic control of L. cuprina are presented. Males released as mature larvae survived to adulthood and mated with field females. However, the levels of genetic death introduced into the population were insufficient to suppress the native population. This was due partly to seasonal ineffectiveness of the release method, and partly to poor performance of the released males. On average, the mating competitiveness of the released males was only one-third that of field males, whereas their field-reared, translocation-bearing sons were fully competitive with native males.

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