WA producer Anderson Rams has developed a robust genetic base

Facts and figures declare she could not be more correct if she wanted.

Anderson Rams has developed a genetic base that is robust, productive, fertile and highly worm resistant - a rare and cherished combination of traits focused on improved commercial performance.

And it's been a labour of love and passionate persistence passed down from grandfather to son to granddaughter over several decades.

Athol Anderson started it all, moving from a comfortable property in Katanning for a largely uncleared block near Kojonup in WA's Great Southern Region. With wife Mary at his side they raised seven children, bred sheep and planted crops using horses and hand-drawn ploughs.

A forward thinker, he used fleece measurements and body weights in his ram breeding in the 1960s rather than rely solely on subjective visual assessment.

His son Alan, also an innovator, embraced objective measurement and genetics and contributed to the Sheep Genetics Australia pilot project in 2002 because he believed using science to qualify and quantify traits and their heritability could aid productivity.

So it has, and with Ms Anderson at the helm the strength and depth of Anderson breeding is evident in sire evaluations around Australia and internationally where its genetics excel in commercial trials.

Take, if you will, the MerinoLink Sire Evaluation at Boorowa, NSW, where Anderson 160729 was a clear leader for combined visual and measured traits. Thirty per cent of his progeny were classed as tops and he stands ahead of the pack for high, clean fleece weight and low body wrinkle. In short he is also a trait leader for all the indexes.

This enticing combination of production, yet easy-care traits lures stud and commercial buyers time after time.

Like her forebears, Ms Anderson holds a passion and commitment to breeding a bloodline that remains productive yet low maintenance under high stocking rates and all seasonal conditions.

Carcase traits of fast early growth, fat and eye muscle are firmly entrenched in the flock enhancing fertility, lamb survival and doing-ability.

Eighteen years ago she and her father decided to push hard for worm resistance to counter welfare issues caused by intestinal parasites, as well as the labour, effort and time which would be expended in multiple drenching sessions.

Their predominantly ewe flock has not required drenching for years and Anderson's clients express surprise at the big reduction in dags and flystrike in their progeny, proving the hard work was worthwhile.

"Because they also have plain bodies we have been able to easily cease mulesing and give our clients the confidence that they can also do so if they choose," Ms Anderson said.

"We have been using ASBVs in our stud selection since 2003 along with rigorously recorded pedigree and a multitude of lifetime traits which has given our breeding values a high degree of accuracy.

"Clients say our rams breed exactly as their breeding values predicted.

"Our stud flock is run under commercial conditions, the same as the general flock, so the traits of robustness and resilience are able to be expressed."

Eighty stud breeders and many commercial breeders across Australia, including some of the biggest names in the business, repeatedly turn to Anderson genetics to improve doing-ability and carcase traits within their flocks, while still delivering heavy fleece weights with quality wool.

At their annual ram sale last year, the top-priced ram Anderson offered was the most worm-resistant ram offered for sale in Australia with an WEC ASBV of -93.

Anderson sheep are capable of mating at six-seven months and successfully rearing lambs as ewe lambs which can fast-track flock rebuilding. It's why their genetics are so keenly sought.

Facts and figures tell you so ...