Genetics a ‘game-changer’ for wool

ANIMAL genetics could prove to be a game changer for the Australian wool industry.

Through the adoption of genetics the modern day poultry, pig and dairy industries are no longer the same industries they were 40 years ago.

But according to UWA professor David Lindsay, the Australian wool industry has been reluctant to grasp the benefits of animal genetics, and therefore has not changed in over 100 years.

"Looking at the dairy (milk produced per cow) and the wool industry (wool produced per sheep), there is a huge disparity," he said.

"Between 1940 and 1960 neither industries made any progress in their performance, but by 1960 there was the introduction of wide-scale measurement in the dairy industry and an introduction of AI as a management tool and suddenly the lines start to part.

"The dairy industry has improved milk production per cow by 375 per cent.

"But in contract the wool industry has not managed to significantly improve the productivity of wool produced per sheep."

Mr Lindsay said there was no lack of potential for genetics to make game changing improvements in the wool industry

"Just think about if we were able to double the amount of wool produced per sheep, but inputs remained the same, it would be an entirely different industry," he said.

"But we will never see that unless the industry and genetic introduction is managed properly."

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Genetics a 'game-changer' for wool