How to use new indexes to dial up genetic gain

New Merino Indexes have just been released – but how can you use them in your business?

Here, MLA’s Sheep Genetics manager, Peta Bradley, shares her tips and tools to help sheep producers target genetics which align with their production goals.

Whether you’re a Merino breeder or looking to purchase rams for a commercial flock, these new indexes meet the needs of different sheep enterprises.

Understanding how indexes work

For producers who aren’t as familiar with or who haven’t utilised indexes before, Peta said understanding their purpose and value is key to improving a flock’s genetic merit.

“I like to use the cereal aisle in your local grocery store as an analogy of how to use these indexes,” she said.

“If having a healthy breakfast is most important to you, you can look at the health star rating on each box to condense your shortlist.

“The next most important factor may be having a tasty breakfast, so from the shortlist, you may then look at the individual ingredients to find something you know you will enjoy.

“Ultimately, you’re left with a drastically refined list of cereals you would buy, allowing you to make the final call based on value for money,” Peta said.

“Our Merino Indexes can be used the exact same way – rather than overwhelming yourself by inspecting every ram at the sale, you can use our indexes to do some pre-sale homework and rule out the rams which don’t meet your requirements, leaving yourself with a shortlist of all the ones which do.”

Key changes

Following on from last year’s release of the new research indexes for Merinos, Sheep Genetics has refined these into four indexes which will be released.

“Over the past 12 months, we’ve looked at the feedback we received, taken it into consideration and then refocused our research to fine-tune our previously released indexes,” Peta said.

Across all four indexes there is an emphasis on health and welfare traits which are appropriate for the production system.

For example, the Sustainable Merino (SM) Index includes a focus on health traits such as:

• reducing breech wrinkle
• reducing worm egg count
• reducing dag score.

“The indexes also continue to drive genetic progress in the key production traits such as reproduction, growth and fleece traits,” Peta said.

“Indexes allow genetic improvement for a range of traits even if antagonistic relationships exist. For example, the new indexes yield favourable responses simultaneously for fleece weight and breech wrinkle.”

Update modelling which best captures the different types of Merino production system has been a focus during the development of the new indexes.

“For some indexes, wool traits are a main focus as for some sheep production systems a majority of the income is derived from wool production, whereas other Merino systems achieve more profit from lamb and surplus sheep sales.

“The different indexes enable you to select the one that best suits your production system.”

Peta said feed intake is modelled and accounted for in the new indexes. The updated software also enables methane output to be incorporated in the future when there is an Australia Sheep Breeding Value (ASBV) available for that trait.

The work developing the new indexes was led by Professor Andrew Swan and Dr Sam Walkom from the Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit (AGBU) at the University of New England (UNE). This work is funded by MLA as part of the project that aims to continually develop our world-leading Sheep Genetics and BREEDPLAN genetic evaluations for sheep and beef.

How to make the most of new indexes

When it comes to making to most of the new Merino Indexes, Peta suggested producers start by pinpointing their breeding objective.

“Before you start using breeding values and the Merino Indexes, you need to set your flock production goals,” Peta said.

Pinpoint your breeding objective by identifying your:

• flock’s current performance
• target market
• profit drivers
• operational environment.

MLA’s Genetics Hub is a valuable tool to set and review breeding objectives. The hub also has a range of modules on understanding breeding values and indexes which are a useful refresher before heading into this year’s sale season.

The Sheep Genetics website has more information on breeding values, indexes and boosting genetic gains.

For producers who want to access more information and advice on maximising breeding profit, a BredWell FedWell workshop is a great option.