Stud leaps into a DNA future
Time-honoured methods and DNA testing combine to lift a Merino operation’s clip.
STRIKING the right balance between new data-driven technology and traditional selection methods that have served their business well for decades is the aim of NSW Merino breeders Kim and George Henderson.
In recent years the dynamic father-son team have shown a willingness to adopt new technology, which complements — not compromises — the foundation on which their stud and commercial Merino flock has been built.
The Hendersons operate a self-replacing commercial Merino flock and the Grogansworth Merino stud on properties at Bowning and Binalong, near Yass in the NSW Southern Tablelands.
Grogansworth Merino stud was established in 1985 by Kim and wife Roxanna, with the first on-property sale in 2007.
Kim is well known in the wool industry, particularly for his representation of stud Merino breeders, while son George and wife Alanna have stepped up to play a leading role in the operation during the past decade.
The Hendersons breed polled and horned Merinos, joining nearly 900 stud ewes and 3300 commercial ewes this year.
The Grogansworth clip is typically in the 18.5-19.5-micron range; breeding large-framed heavy cutters is the main priority. Last month mixed-age stud ewes averaged 8kg of wool clip a head, while clients are also recording high-ranking results for fleece value and yield in local wether trials.
While both Kim and George are firm believers that visual selection is still vital for many of the key breeding traits required for dual-purpose Merinos, in recent years they have not been afraid to turn to new genetic technology to hone their selection process.
DNA DRIVERS
TWO years ago the Hendersons joined the DNA Stimulation project, a collaboration between industry research group, MerinoLink and the University of New England and supported by Meat and Livestock Australia. The project aims to double the rate of genetic gain among participating flocks within five years, involving 27 ram breeders, 14 commercial breeders and about 200 commercial breeders.
As part of this project George and Kim started DNA-testing all stud lambs to collect data on parentage, genomics and the horned-poll gene.
Not only are the results adding an extra layer of data to the breeding values they already collect and submit to the Sheep Genetics Australian Sheep Breeding Value database, importantly they are helping guide classing decisions with demonstrated data on good or poor performing rams and ewes.
Data on twin lambs has been particularly helpful come classing time at Grogansworth.
“The difference between single and twin fleece weights and growth rates can be significant so it helps take some of that grey area out of our decision making,” George said.
“Prior to this, if we joined a syndicate of rams from the same family with a mob of ewes, we would look at the lambs and guess, but you never knew for sure who the sire was.
“The first year we DNA-tested I was able to identify a couple of rams that weren’t breeding well. We will definitely continue these tests and we may even expand the type of information we get out of the testing.”
POLLING PLACE
THE stud began breeding polled Merinos five years ago, working towards a 50-50 split of horned and polled sheep in their enterprise.
George said the DNA tests had helped speed up that genetic change by identifying sheep still carrying the horned Merino gene.
They are also using the tests to track the maternal performance of ewes, along with identifying key dual-purpose traits.
“The holy grail”, according to George, would be having a DNA test capable of identifying genes for feed-efficiency and conversion rates in Merinos.
George can see greater adoption of DNA testing by the sheep industry in years to come as the benefits become obvious and more breeders turn to the technology.
“More widespread adoption in years to come will hopefully bring the cost down, which will also help encourage more within our industry to use this technology,” George said.
“I can see immense benefits for the industry longer-term from the type of information DNA testing can provide.”
WEIGHTY ISSUE
WHILE not as hi-tech as DNA testing, fleece weighing has always played an important role in breeding decisions at Grogansworth.
The stud’s fleece weighing program was expanded this year to record results from mixed-age stud ewes for the first time. Previously, only the fleeces of ewe lambs and stud maiden ewes were weighed.
“We try to strike a balance between ASBVs and traditional methods of selection,” George said.
“We collect a lot of raw data including fleece weights, body weights, fleece tests, fat and eye muscle depths on our stud sheep, which is submitted to Sheep Genetics to produce the ASBV data.
“We definitely have clients who are interested in that data and want that information available at our ram sale.”
But while data and measurement are playing an important role informing ram and ewe selection, the Hendersons still value visual appraisal in the overall breeding and classing program.
“From my own experience and from looking through the data from the Merino Lifetime Productivity Project I feel that the yearling clean fleece weight ASBV is a poor predictor of lifetime production so we visually identify sheep with the skin type that produces large quantities of wool, but still comb well when shorn,” George said.
“It may sound a bit mythical but you can definitely tell if a sheep is going to be cutting a lot of wool by the feel and look of it. Shearers are often very good at this.”
GO FIGURE
GEORGE said while they were now testing “for most things available” and can see great potential for DNA testing in the future, they would always support their use of modern technology with traditional methods of selection.
While drought conditions in the Southern Tablelands have eased thanks to good late-summer rain helping break the drought, the Grogansworth sheep numbers are still back by at least 25 per cent.
“But having retained and joined more ewes this year and a plan to do the same next year, we expect to be back at capacity within the next 18 months,” George said.
Over the past three years the Hendersons had run mature wethers as wool cutters, but reduced those numbers last year to make way for more ewes within the operation.
“That was also a strategic thing — being aware that there would be a shortage of breeding stock once the drought broke,” George said.
He said as sheep producers across NSW rebuilt flocks that had been depleted because of the drought, the main demand was for dual-purpose sheep that were adaptable across meat and wool operations.
“It is unfortunate the wool prices are down because of the COVID-19 downturn, but the best thing you can do is make sure you’re cutting plenty of kilos and have that meat option there,” George said.
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