| 89 DNA test predicts lamb’s eating quality Located at the Duncraigen Farm near Manapouri, Southland, the SIGC flock from various breeders around the country consists of more than 1000 ewes pictured here with their lambs in early December. Richard Loader RURAL SERVICES » AgResearch (Invermay) Breeding animals to produce higher quality meat has been the focus of the South Island Genomic Calibration (SIGC) project, and research partners have been staying ahead with the use of the latest genomic profiling tools coupled with early selection of the best rams. The SIGC is a partnership of researchers and industry groups; Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) Genetics, PAMU, Focus Genetics, AgResearch, along with a number of breeders representing SufTex, Suffolk, Texel, Wiltshire, Charollais, Hampshire, and terminal composites. SIGC also acknowledges those that have been with the project since establishment - Focus Genetics, Kelso Genetics, The Premier Suftex group and the Southern Suffolk group. Located at the Duncraigen Farm near Manapouri, Southland, the SIGC flock from various breeders around the country consists of more than 1000 ewes that have been mated to ~ 300 terminal breed rams over the last seven years, whose DNA profile has been genotyped. The SIGC continues the work carried out by the FarmIQ Primary Growth Partnership genetics program by implementing the results in industry through maintaining and improving the genomic predictions for meat quality and carcass composition traits in terminal sire breeds. Shannon Clarke, AgResearch’s principal scientist, says Advanced genomic techniques, together with in-depth meat quality and yield trait collection, were utilised to develop a genomic tool that now allows terminal sire breeders to predict which terminal sire rams are likely to produce offspring with better quality meat — increased tenderness and juiciness. “Industry implementation of genomic predictions for growth, yield and meat quality in terminal sheep sires requires continued testing in the training flock (SIGC) to maintain accuracy and validation of the meat quality traits. The SIGC ewes lamb in September/October and are grown for processing at weaning in January, with weaning percentages at 150%. Lambing dates and weights are recorded to determine exact growth rates, each lamb is tissue sampled at docking and genotyped.” When the lambs are processed, the team at AgResearch work with the processor to capture a series of measurements to determine the tenderness and IMF of each lamb, along with pH, meat and fat colour and visual marbling. Previously, the only way to test for eating quality was to eat the animal, but Shannon says the ground-breaking work being done in the SIGC flock has resulted in the ability to predict a lamb’s eating quality via a DNA test, using the AgResearch Sheep Genomic 60Kplus SNP chip (genomnz@agresearch. co.nz ). “This has been achieved without affecting genetic progress for other terminal traits, as evidenced in the graph, the New Zealand Terminal Worth with Meat Quality indexes increasing as a result of the industry implementation of meat quality genomic breeding values over the past seven years. The collection of detailed meat quality measures in the SIGC progeny underpins the meat quality index and enables predictions to the terminal sire industry through their flocks genetic Testing for Invermay Agricultural Centre,176 Puddle Alley, Mosgiel 9092 0800 DNA LAB (362 522) | genomnz@agresearch.co.nz | www.genomnz.co.nz Sheep Genomic The premier product developed for the New Zealand sheep industry. on all progeny prior to weaning. Genetics to shape the future of your farm 0508 159 159 | info@focusgenetics.com | focusgenetics.com Focus Genetics is a market leader in genetic improvement, setting a global benchmark for sustainable animal breeding, improving the health, welfare and performance of animals through genetic selection. With a large portfolio of research projects, we are proud to be part of the South Island Genomic Calibration (SIGC) project and have been using the meat quality index in our terminal FocusPrime™ and Texel flocks since 2015. linkage to the SIGC flock. This will enable commercial farmers to breed lambs with better quality meat through buying rams selected for better eating quality. Ultimately the end result is the breeding of a consistently better and more enjoyable eating experience for the consumer.” This AgResearch Sheep Genomic chip has been developed by AgResearch scientists who strive to deliver leading-edge technologies to New Zealand breeders, ensuring the New Zealand sheep meat industry can meet the expectations of our international markets.
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