R&D update
Rare sheep to keep Australian Merino wool beautiful
The search is on for Australia’s rarest Merino lambs which could hold the key to Australia’s $2.8 billion wool industry challenging the dominance of synthetic fibres in world markets.
Scientists from the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) and the University of Adelaide are searching for Merino lambs with unusual wool that could provide the keys to unlocking the ‘genetic library’ pointing to superior wool quality.
Adelaide University’s Professor Phil Hynd says these lambs are usually viewed as worthless because they may have uneven wool, strange fibres, clumps of wool that fall out, bare patches, no wool, unusual crimp, extra-lustrous wool, or even highly wrinkled skin.
“These lambs are in fact highly valuable to the industry, because one of the most efficient ways to identify the genes that impact on certain wool traits is to study animals that have rare or extreme features,” said Professor Hynd.
“When something goes really wrong with the genes, it is the most powerful indicator about where to look to identify the genes that can – paradoxically – make things go really right.
“It’s as though in a mirage of thousands of genes, we can suddenly see a flag pointing to those that are critical to wool follicle formation and fibre synthesis.
“Ultimately, through the latest DNA-based technology, it’s the ugly sheep that will help us make quantum leaps to advance the qualities of Australian Merino wool to make it more stretchy, less scratchy, shinier and easier to spin, and to compete better against synthetic fibres,” added Professor Hynd.
Professor Hynd said that it was estimated that, among Australia’s Merino flock, there will be about 100 ‘xtreme’ lambs born this autumn that will exhibit the naturally occurring random mutations that cause unusual fleeces.
“Currently the Australian wool industry is making small, incremental improvements to wool quality. The development of studying unusual sheep could lead to dramatic improvements in genetic gain and secure a healthy future for the Australian wool industry,” concluded Professor Hynd.
Scientists are now calling on farmers with this season’s ‘xtreme’ sheep put them forward as part of a joint Australian Wool Innovation Limited and Meat and Livestock Australia initiative – the Sheep Genomics Program.
This ‘ugly’ research by Australian scientists will help to maintain Australian Merino wool’s reputation as the most beautiful in the world.
For more information please visit www.sardi.sa.gov.au