Sheep genomics program proposed

In a new approach to animal science, Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) is meeting with scientists with a wide range of experience in medical and animal sciences to establish a functional genomics program for the sheep industry.

The outcomes of the program would be targeted to the requirements of the sheep industry and would focus on host response to pathogens and disease control, physiology of meat production to improve efficiency and quality, and reproductive technologies to improve animal survival.

"We've been working for nine months trying to draw together the Australia and New Zealand landscape for functional genomics in animals, principally the sheep industry," said Dr Hutton Oddy, manager of southern production research at MLA.

While most functional genomics is performed in humans and animal models to benefit medical science, Oddy believes that there are equivalent opportunities in animal science.

"We would like to turn the attention of top genomic scientists to animals," he said.

Oddy's proposed program at MLA will bring together a mix of scientists from various fields, including geneticists, cell biologists, animal physiologists, veterinarians and others, in an effort to develop a more integrated systems biology approach.

"I see bringing in scientists from other disciplines as a critical success factor," he said.

Oddy said he wanted to connect two different approaches - the technology-driven genomics approach and the historical databases of phenotypes and pedigrees, which contain a huge amount of information that can be mined for use in functional studies.

He said he hoped such a connection would allow correlation of phenotypes with genes, and start to answer questions of gene control and function in sheep.

To begin the process, MLA has organised a workshop to be held early in July, focusing on developing the science program.

Following the workshop, the MLA will work with investors to provide a business framework for the program, and ultimately to commercially develop products to improve the well-being of the sheep and increase the profitability of the sheep industry.

• For further information on the sheep functional genomics program, contact Dr Hutton Oddy at Meat and Livestock Australia, 02 9463 9228 or hoddy@mla.com.au