South Australian ewe flocks will play a critical role in the newly launched CRC for Sheep Industry Innovation.  
The new Sheep CRC launched today (22 August) in Armidale is the successor to the Australian Sheep Industry CRC and will run until 2014.
SARDI is a core participant in the CRC with researchers working closely with industry to increase the productivity and profitability of sheep, meat and wool.
Two ewe flocks at Turretfield and Struan Research Centres form part of eight ‘Information Nucleus’ flocks around Australia and will be integral in ensuring the accessibility of CRC results to the South Australian industry.
The flocks are a world first innovation that will provide the base for the CRC’s core research activities and enhance the application of results by industry.
In South Australia, Dr Forbes Brien, Principal Research Scientist, SARDI is managing the flocks on behalf of SARDI and the Sheep CRC.  
“The information nucleus is a new concept for the Sheep CRC and underpins the other research programs.  The national flock will provide an integrated approach for the CRC’s programs and demonstrates a much more market research approach,” said Forbes.
“There are 500 ewes in each South Australian flock, with another six flocks around Australia.  The spread of flocks allows the research to be tested under different environmental conditions making the findings directly relevant to producers in each state.
“Both flocks were established earlier this year and artificially inseminated to one of 100 specially selected sires.  The ewes have just finished lambing so the first set of results will be available very soon.”
The new Sheep CRC is focused on achieving results for industry with the programs developed to ensure results are readily available and easily implemented by individual producers.
“We are using commercially available sires; we are measuring a number of traits that would be too expensive to measure in a commercial operation, for example Omega 3 fatty acid levels,” he said.
All of the progeny information will be added immediately to the Sheep Genetics database and contribute to the Australian Sheep Breeding Values.
South Australia’s Sheep Industry Development Board will meet with key Sheep CRC staff next month to determine how industry can integrate their activities with those of the Sheep CRC.
 

Contacts: Forbes Brien, Principal Research Scientist, SARDI, 0427 004 066
Jane McBride, PIRSA Communications and Marketing, 0423 296 579