Gene Talk

DownloadNov 2015 Selecting for profit
What happens when you select on a composite trait rather than its component parts? DownloadJul 2015 Sizing things up
Animals differing from a general rule are 'exceptional' and worthy of attention. Find out why DownloadMay 2015 Size scaling - Part III
This final article considers the previous two columns and what they tell us about mammalian biology DownloadApr 2015 Size scaling - Part II
How genetic size scaling theory helps interpret data from animal breeding programmes DownloadMar 2015 Size scaling - Part I
An understanding of the consequences of body size helps explain why animals differ in performance DownloadJan 2015 Getting it 'just right'
We are beginning to see some traits approach an intermediate optimum, the so-called Goldilocks zone DownloadNov 2014 The smoking gun
Accuracy - an idea important in the characterisation of genetic merit. DownloadSep 2014 More than meets the eye
There are a lot of indices out there and there is merit in having industry standards DownloadJul 2014 Who's your daddy?
Modern genetic evaluation systems rely on having a pedigree with good accuracy. DownloadMay 2014 Bucking the big trend
We cannot ignore the effects of selection for growth in young animals on adult size DownloadMar 2014 The higher ground
The importance of hill country to NZ sheep and beef production is well accepted. DownloadJan 2014 Useful accuracy
What level of accuracy is useful when we use EBVs and indexes to buy bulls or rams? DownloadNov 2013 Turbo time
Defining optimal fatness or BCS is an important part of assessing maternal suitability DownloadSep 2013 Age and wisdom
Here for the long-haul? Being long-lived is under-rated at the moment. DownloadJul 2013 The one constant is change
What do we do when we get to the objective for one or more traits? DownloadJun 2013 Getting good genetic outcomes
Discussing selection and the danger of being fixated on one or just a few traits  DownloadMar 2013 Profit or efficiency
Understanding the difference between these two measures of “improvement” DownloadJan 2013 Better off dead?
How can a dead lamb have a higher rating for genetic merit in lamb survival than a live lamb? DownloadNov 2012 Simplifying selection
What does a selection index tell a bull or ram buyer? DownloadSep 2012 Size, shape & proportions
An important distinction is to separate things based on size from those based on proportions DownloadAug 2012 Index weights and expected change
Index weights alone do not indicate the direction of the expected responses to selection DownloadJul 2012 Are ewes too big?
In NZ sheep breeding circles there is a range of views on what we should do about adult ewe size DownloadMar 2012 What is carcase meat yield?
“Yield” has a variety of definitions which can cause confusion DownloadJan 2012 A focus on lamb survival
Recent comment in the rural media has questioned whether we have “got it right” for lamb survival

In the Media

DownloadOctober 2016 Best Practice Guide (Draft)
Best Practice Guide for review and feedback DownloadMar 2016 Faecal egg counts
Selecting for internal parasite resistance can reduce the time and money spent on drenches DownloadOct 2015 The latest report card
In the past 20 years genetic gains in NZ sheep have accelerated. Dr Mark Young explains why DownloadOct 2015 Implications of ewe fatness
As discussed by Australian geneticist Dr Dan Brown at the 2015 breeder forum Download2014 - 2015 Central Progeny Test: 2014-15 results
Breeding values for the top 25 terminal sire and top 25 dual purpose rams DownloadOct 2015 Facial Eczema: Tolerance the goal
Dr Tricia Johnson & Neville Amyes discuss facial eczema tolerance in flocks