Genetic Performance
Edale Genetic Performance Expression
Edale seeks to breed sheep that have ADULT mid-range body weights, but with early maturity high-range body weights.
The commercial merit of high-range ADULT body weights is questionable. Early maturity is a key factor and genetic focus within the Edale breeding program, however, profitability per hectare is maximised by having mid-sized adult sheep with highly dense wool and a low FD which enables a higher stocking rate which leads to more progeny and wool per Ha.
The general rule of thumb is that sheep consume around 3% of their BW, therefore smaller adult sheep with the correct skin architecture are able to produce more wool/ha and more progeny/ha (when mating ewes and birthing ewes are in score condition 3+).
Central Sire Test Evaluation - Merino Superior Sires
99Z340S was the break-through sire which set up the Edale Merino Stud. He exhibited dense, match-stick staples of low crimp frequency (low curvature). As a consequence he demonstrated a very high GFW with a low FD. When entered into the Badgingarra Yardstick Test Sire Evaluation in 2002 mating he joined the Top 25 Sires in the country, ranking No 2 in two of the indexes and 6 in the third. Note that his dam was a ewe progeny of Wallaloo Park. His sire was likely son of either Gowandale or Wallaloo Park genetics.
Subsequently, sons 02K071, 03K065 and a grandson from his grand-daughter, 08E239 have featured in the top, now 50, of top performing sires nationally. In the 2016 Merino Superior Sires report, 08E239 ranked 15th-18th across all indexes. In 2018 he continued to rank high - 25th in the Fibre Production Plus Index, and ranked 43rd-47th in each of the other indexes (Dual Purpose Plus, Merino Production Plus, and Wool Production Plus).
Historical Measured Trend of Edale's Adult GFW and FD
Since 1989, Edale has tracked the sweep the floor GFW and FD of its adult clip. It is a measure of performance which all wool producers should be doing to determine if their source of genetics is achieving value for their wool enterprise.
The graph below shows how Edale’s GFW has remained steady while the FD has declined materially – a relationship which until recently was believed to be highly unlikely. The trend line shown removes seasonal and environmental impacts over time.
In addition, Edale applies an index developed by Tim Hutchins of New South Wales to remove seasonal variation in the measurement of the relationship between GFW and FD. The index is based around the geometry of a cylinder, which replicating that of a wool fibre, relates GFW and FD independently of year to year seasonal variation. His work (unpublished) found that the average flock would have an index of 10. An index of 14 was of a flock which had achieved an elite level of the GFW and FD relationship. Edale uses the index to measure the improvement of the entire MF and SF adult wool clip, as well as for individual sheep, especially sires. However it needs 12 mths wool growth and the FD of that same period.
Productivity/ha and /mm rainfall
Edale’s production is at a high level. The winter grazed stocking rate lies around 9.5DSEs/ha in an area where the growing season rainfall (WGR) lies around 200mm. Wool production exceeds 40kgs/ha on average, with water use efficiency around 14kgs/WGha/100mm GSR.
Genetics External to Edale
Centre Plus genetics gave the Edale Merino Stud performance a significant boost in 2006, especially Centre Plus 107351 whose semen was used in 2007, and bred 08E239 by mating with a dam who was a grand daughter of 99Z340S.
Breeding has built around Edale’s own genetics since that time, apart from using semen from Ejanding 145096 whose Sheep Genetics EBVs positioned him as one of the best sires to breed early maturity in the country; and semen once again from Centre Plus 7333 this time for the 2019 AI program.
Semen from Anderson has been purchased but to date not used.