Changes at Sheep Genetics
Sheep Genetics has been working on a number of enhancements that will be introduced on the 1st May 2022. This will be for all analysis - Maternal, Terminal, Merino and Dohne.
Each year Sheep Genetics make updates, this year will be some pretty significant changes. We have tried to capture what these updates will be. The main reason for the changes is to continue to improve breeding values, through improving the analysis, and as the database continues to grow making sure there are long term efficiencies in place.
Data Base Redevelopment
The Sheep Genetics database redevelopment will see the MERINOSELECT, LAMBPLAN and Research databases come into one "Datawarehouse". What this will mean is that we will have all the data stored in the same database format, currently they are all separate. This will allow more efficiencies moving forward.
There will be some changes that will come from the database redevelopment affecting some ASBVs (Australian Sheep Breeding Values) and indexes. From the information we have been presented with from Sheep Genetics the traits most impacted are Maternal (IMF, SF5, FAT), Terminal (SF5, IMF) and Merino (FAT, EMD, FD).
In the future there will be a new method for importing data, however at this stage the current process of emailing the export files from your software to Sheep Genetics will remain as the new system is further tested.
The new databases are anticipated to be fully in use for the routine run on the 7th May 2022.
The redevelopment will also provide updates to the Sheep Genetics Search site and ram breeders will start to see some new ways of accessing your results. We will have more on these updates in the coming month.
Reproduction Traits - NLW moving to WR (Weaning Rate)
The introduction of the component reproduction traits in the Maternal and Merino analysis has been a great improvement over the past 2 years. With the introduction of these component traits (listed below) has also highlighted the need to review Number of Lambs Weaned (NLW).
Conception (CON) - did the ewe conceive?
Liter size (LS) - How many lambs were born?
Ewe rearing ability (ERA) - How successful did the ewe rear her lamb(s)?
What we are seeing is that the reproduction component traits are more targeted and we are seeing more genetic gain for these traits compared to NLW.
The new database redevelopment (mentioned above) will also allow the genomic information to be included in the analysis, this has not been included in the past.
The changes you will see from the 1st May 2022 is that NLW (Number of lambs weaned) will no longer be reported, it will be replaced by a new trait called Weaning Rate (WR). WR is an improvement on NLW.
With WR replacing NLW there will be some changes to the Maternal and Merino current indexes after the 1st May 2022. As a result we are likely to see some movement of animal ranking on indexes.
For Maternal indexes the correlation between the current indexes with NLW and the updated indexes with WR is 0.96 (very high), it is worth noting that you will need to review the percentile band tables to recalibrate the index averages.
For Merino indexes the correlations between the current DP+, MP+ and FP+ range from 0.86, 0.91 and 0.93 respectively. There is more movement in the DP+ due to a large weighing on reproduction in the index.
MERINOSELECT Index Review
As an industry we have been talking about index reviews for a number of years. As mentioned above there will be some changes to the current indexes this year with NLW being replaced by WR.
For the Merino analysis these changes will not fully accommodate the full review process. The index review process for Merinos is on going and will aim to be delivered next April (2023), so you will see more changes this time next year.
There is an opportunity to be involved in the index review process, SheepMetriX will be organising some meetings between July and September 2022 to look at the proposed new indexes. If you would like to be involved please register your interest before the end of June 2022.
