\u201cPeople came from three different states \u2013 there was a lot of interest, and a lot of people were happy to contribute to the conversation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThey asked questions and were happy to share their experiences with footrot and how sheep with different selection pressure have responded to different footrot strains.\u201d<\/p>\n
The development of a footrot breeding value is already delivering positive results in New Zealand, where breeders are using it to improve flock\u00a0resistance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A separate trial is now underway in Victoria to validate the NZ findings under Australian conditions.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the moment, there\u2019s a collaborative project being undertaken by AWI, Murdoch University, neXtgen Agri and Animal Health Australia \u2013 Mark Ferguson showed some of the preliminary trial results,\u201d Ms Kealy said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSheep Genetics representatives were also there, and they shared their timeline.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThey expect that not only will we have a breeding value, but we\u2019ll be able to do genomic predictions for footrot resistance, as well as incorporating it into a flock profile test.\u201d<\/p>\n
For the past six years, Curlew Merinos has supported the research by sending cull rams to a host farm for scoring of footrot resistance and scald, contributing valuable data to the national effort.<\/p>\n
Curlew Merinos is one of few studs in Australia recording the footrot data and has also used sires that have performed well in New Zealand as a way to benchmark their own flock.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were able to share our experiences\u00a0and selection strategies, and at the end of all of this trial work, sheep genetics will have a footrot breeding value available that people can use,\u201d Ms Kealy said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf people want to be kept in the loop as we collect more information, we\u2019re happy to keep sharing our results.\u201d<\/p>\n
People can contact Ms Kealy at\u00a0info@curlewmerinos.com<\/a>\u00a0for more information on the trial and its results.<\/p>\n