$30 million sheep genomics project launched

With almost no fanfare, Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) and Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) have joined forces to fund one of the largest and most significant projects in Australia’s history: a $30 million sheep genomics program.

The project, which aims to keep Australia’s wool and sheep-meat industries at the forefront of international markets, will look for genes to improve the productivity and quality of Australian wool and sheep meat.

The wool segment of the project will be conducted by the Livestock Systems Alliance, based at the University of Adelaide’s Roseworthy campus. The alliance is a joint venture between the university and the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI).

Roseworthy campus director Prof Phil Hynd, an international authority on the genetics of hair-follicle genesis in sheep, will head the wool project.