Large scale Merino stud, Pooginook, is taking SNP testing to another level.
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Owned by Paraway Pastoral Company, the Jerilderie stud has DNA sampled last year’s lambs and taken DNA of 4000 of its stud ewes and last year’s lambs for parentage testing. The new progeny each year will also be DNA sampled. This combined with raw data collected for body weights, fleece weights, fat and muscle will improve the accuracy of all the breeding values.
Manager, John Sutherland, said the technology was going to bring Pooginook improved genetic gains. The stud’s key reason for using DNA technologies was to shorten the stud’s generation interval and improve the accuracy of breeding values for ram selection.
“At Pooginook we’re working towards using weaners with more confidence because they have more accuracy generated by pedigree. Having sheep with total productivity is key,” he said.
That meant having fertile ewes producing valuable fleece throughout their life.
