flock profile for merinos · of sheep and dna test reference population with ... 17 flock profile...

Flock Profile for Merinos

Tom Granleese

Genetics – hopefully not nonsense

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Flock Profile – Merino

Genomic flock average for key merino traits

Genomic predictions for 20 randomly sampled

sheep from a drop

Genomic predictions are then scaled to ASBV

level NOT ASBVs» Non SG members cannot receive genomic ASBVs

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Flock Profile – Uses

Estimate genetic merit on ASBV level – youngest drop

Breed more profitable sheep

Make better ram buying decisions

Make better ram team allocation decisions

Store in Ram Select

Track progress over multiple years

Use for marketing ewes if selling

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How to participate

Register details with Sheep Genomics office

Take blood or tissue samples (very simple to do) of 20

Merino sheep from your drop – random selection

Receive results 10-12 weeks after $800 (+GST) payment

is made

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Genomic Prediction: basic idea

1) measure lots of traits on lots of sheep and DNA test

Reference population with breeding values

Genomic Prediction: basic idea

2) Breeder DNA testsyoung sheep

Prediction based on DNA relationships to reference population genomic breeding values

1) measure lots of traits on lots of sheep and DNA test

Reference population with breeding values

Interpreting results

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Traits consistent with Sheep Genetics


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Your Flock Profile results - directly comparable to ASBVs


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Flock Profile values percentile directly comparable to Sheep Genetics


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Results are a guide, not absolute values

Results become more accurate the more closely related the flock to the reference population


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Select ram teams with higher average ASBVs in desired traits to get genetic gain

Example: ↑ fleece weights ↔ fibre diameter

Example: Select ram team average ASBVs

ABOVE –11.4 ycfw OR ABOVE 90th percentile

BELOW or equal to -1.9 yfd OR ABOVE 15th

percentile

Report a Poll – Horn indication

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Client: J. Bloggs PH Status Percentage (%) Date: 13/6/2017 PP: 20 Flock Drop: 2015 PH: 75

HH: 5

Pure polled


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HH: 5

Copy of poll and horned gene

but usually phenotypically

polled (dominant)


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HH: 5

Pure horned rams/wethers usually

phenotypically horned; some

ewes phenotypically horned.

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Validation

Flock average ASBV adult fibre diameter

Flock Profileadult fibre diameter

Is this good?

It was positive enough to further investigate!

R² = 0.74

-4

-3

-2

-1

0

1

2

3

-3.5 -3 -2.5 -2 -1.5 -1 -0.5 0 0.5 1

Does Phenotype match GBVPWMMC data

50 wether teams x 30 wethers randomly selected after weaning

Included flocks using SG and non-SG rams

“Even up” shearing upon arrival

Run under same conditions from then on in Wagga

15 wethers shorn and then slaughtered after year 1

Remaining15 wethers shorn and then slaughtered after year 2

Flock Profile on each team of remaining 15 wethers17

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Does Phenotype match GBVPWMMC data

Cohort average µm

Flock Profile adult fibre diameterc

R² = 0.61

-3.5

-3.0

-2.5

-2.0

-1.5

-1.0

-0.5

0.0

15.0 16.0 17.0 18.0 19.0 20.0 21.0 22.0

Is this good?

We are very pleased as geneticists!

Ram team average vs Flock Profile example

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Ram team average

ASBV 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Flock Profile

2016 drop

ywt 5.1 5.4 5.7 5.6 6.0 7.0 5.2

yfd -1.0 -0.8 -0.6 -0.6 -0.8 -1.2 -0.8

ycfw 13.1 13.8 16.1 16.8 17.5 18.0 14.8

ysl 10.3 12.1 11.8 12.3 12.7 13.3 11.6

Ram team managing example – Ram Select

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Ram team average

ASBV 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Flock Profile

2016 drop

ywt 5.1 5.4 5.7 5.6 6.0 7.0 5.2

yfd -1.0 -0.8 -0.6 -0.6 -0.8 -1.2 -0.8

ycfw 13.1 13.8 16.1 16.8 17.5 18.0 14.8

ysl 10.3 12.1 11.8 12.3 12.7 13.3 11.6

Common question

Why isn’t the genetic merit of my flock the same

as my ram team average?

or

Why doesn’t my Flock Profile match my ram team?

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Quick answer!

Genetic lag!

What does that mean?

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Genetic lag

Only half of genetics comes from ram

Other half from dam

What is the age structure of dams?

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Age structure of pedigree

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2017 drop

35% 2yo 25% 3yo 20% 4yo 15% 5yo 5% 6yo 2017 Ram team

with ASBVS

YOB: 2015 YOB: 2014 YOB: 2013 YOB: 2012 YOB: 2011


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2017 drop


with ASBVS



with ASBVS



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2017 drop


with ASBVS



with ASBVS



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2017 drop


with ASBVS



with ASBVS



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2017 drop


with ASBVS



with ASBVS



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2017 drop


with ASBVS



with ASBVS


Genetic merit of drop usually 3-6 years behind

ram team average in self-replacing flock

If breeding objective is consistent

Will move closer to 3 years with lower ewe generation

intervals

(select more young ewes)

Balance genetic gain vs commercial productivity

Ewes most productive 3-5 years age commercially

As demonstrated by Flock Profile

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Ram team average

ASBV 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Flock Profile

2016 drop

ywt 5.1 5.4 5.7 5.6 6.0 7.0 5.2

yfd -1.0 -0.8 -0.6 -0.6 -0.8 -1.2 -0.8

ycfw 13.1 13.8 16.1 16.8 17.5 18.0 14.8

ysl 10.3 12.1 11.8 12.3 12.7 13.3 11.6

What’s in the pipeline

Update report format

Results available on Ram Select

Tests now available at $800 + GST to any Merino breeder

(flocks unrelated to Sheep Genetics flocks can participate)

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Summing Up

For Merinos only (so far) regardless of bloodlines

Results based on genomics only at ASBV scale

Tests now available at $800 + GST to any Merino breeder

Integrate results with Ram Select

Changing how results are being displayed

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AcknowledgementsCollaborative project

Daniel Brown (AGBU & Sheep Genetics [MLA])

Julius van der Werf (UNE & Sheep CRC)

Sam Clark (UNE)

Andrew Swan (AGBU)

Klint Gore (AGBU)

Hamish Chandler (MLA)

Lu Hogan (Sheep CRC)

Bec McCarthur-Onslow (Australian Innovation Co.)

Sally Martin and Craig Wilson (PWMMC)

Jim Meckiff (Allflex)

Anthony Shepherd (Sheep Matters)

Luke Stephen (NSW DPI)

Caris Jones (Merino Select [MLA])

The participants! see map next slide

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Any further questions?

Participants now or waiting

flock profile for merinos · of sheep and dna test reference population with ... 17 flock profile...

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