New project to tackle sheep genomics

In a simpler age, before molecular genetics, CSIRO researchers developed SireSine, a contraption containing a large, waterproof wax crayon strategically mounted around a ram's chest, that allowed him to sign off on the backs of obliging ewes.

Today, through the commercially available BaaCode test, a ram's indelible signature can be read directly from DNA markers in the chromosomes of his progeny. But tomorrow, DNA markers will enable geneticists to track which particular genes for valuable production traits he has bequeathed to each of his progeny.

Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) and Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) have announced they will invest AUD$30 million in a unique sheep genomics program to identify sheep genes involved in animal health and welfare, productivity and production traits.

The research funding will include contributions from the federal government, and industry levies from sheep meat and wool producers.

A joint MLA-AWI statement said the collaboration would ensure wool and sheep meat producers could benefit from the explosive advances in functional genomics and other fields of genetics.

Dr Hutton Oddy, MLA's manager of Strategic Science, says the project would initially involve research groups from at least five Australian universities -- including Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, WA and Western Sydney -- and Victoria's Department of Primary Industries, CSIRO Livestock Industries, and the South Australian Research and Development Institute.

Negotiations are under way with New Zealand biotechnology company Ovita, jointly owned by AgResearch, Meat NZ and the NZ Wool board to determine if a trans-Tasman collaboration is possible. Oddy said Ovita had established a good track record in development of DNA markers for production traits in sheep.

The first phase of the project will provide informative markers to track genes contributing to complex, polygenic traits.

Oddy said such traits, which have been difficult or too costly to measure in the past, could be exploited to reduce production costs, or to increase productivity and quality. They include meat quality and distribution on the carcass, parasite resistance, and wool quality and quantity.

DNA markers related to reproduction and maternal behaviour may also be sought in a later phase of the program.

"Once the genes that underlie complex production traits have been identified and sequenced, the project will shift towards functional genomics, and understanding gene regulation," Oddy said.

He said that in the present environment, it was preferable that newly discovered genes be patented for commercialisation, which requires their function to be known.

Oddy stressed that the sheep genomics program was not aimed at developing transgenic sheep -- the DNA marker project will generate enough information to develop superior sheep without transgenics.

"The lamb industry is a very successful industry, second only to the Australian wine industry over the past decade, and has no plans to do anything that could have a negative impact on consumer perceptions,' he said.

"And there's enough genetic variation in the Merino to be exploited to allow us to make phenomenal progress if we have the right tools."