Science of Merino: Merino science uptakes focus on sustainability, welfare and eating quality genetics

The large uptake of Merino breeders using the science advantage to produce premium wool and processor preferred carcase specifications are setting themselves up to be at the forefront of dual-purpose financial returns. Inside Countryman’s Science of Merino publication, commercial producers will discover how to make ram selection decisions based on accurate Merinoselect data that ensures results in their wool clip and sheep turn-off on a unit per hectare basis. Sheep Genetics has continued to make updates to its software model with the introduction of genomic system options that include fibre, Merino and dual-purpose indexes. These indexes now include some of the data from more than 8000 animals genotyped from the past few years. The new indexes include maternal lamb, sustainable Merino and its variant sustainable Merino high rainfall, wool production and fine wool that were released in June. They are more about sustainability and animal welfare balanced with traditional production traits to help breeders meet the challenges of changing environments and production systems for sustainability goals. The new indexes are driving breeding values made up of the “hard to measure” genetic traits like carcase and eating quality. Meat Standards Australia in partnership with key research organisations are breaking new ground in developing a cuts-based grading model for the lamb industry that will pave the way for greater value generation through segregation of cuts based on quality. These benefits are set to come to the lamb industry through the commercialisation of the MSA sheepmeat cuts-based model. It will identify and differentiate lamb on eating quality, enabling it to be marketed at different price points. A data based on more than 120,000 consumer sensory scores will establish a full cuts-based grading model. A key contributor to enabling the MSA Sheepmeat cuts-based model has been new objective carcase measurement technologies developed through the Advanced Livestock Measurement Technologies Australia program. The prototype of the lamb grading model was developed about 12 months ago, and since then Meat and Livestock Australia and other partners have been working closely with the majority of medium to large sheepmeat supply chains towards commercialisation. Having devices which can measure intramuscular fat as one of the traits of the MSA cuts-based model will progress the value proposition for this model for industry take-up. Many processors are in the process of upgrading plant infrastructure and technologies in preparation for what is to come, and this will increase ever more so in the next 12 to 18 months. Proof is in the pudding as all of the participating studs in Science of Merino will testify that the science advantage really works particularly when there are challenges that involve government legislation brought on by community concerns for animal welfare.