Breech score guide available
A pocket guide on visual breech scores is available free from AWI to help woolgrowers identify and breed sheep that are less susceptible to breech flystrike.
The Visual Breech Scores guide, the first of its kind in Australia, has been developed by AWI as part of its support for research into alternatives to conventional mulesing.
The new guide focuses on breech characteristics known to reduce susceptibility to breech flystrike - breech wrinkle, bare breech area and dag score.
The new scoring system is being used in AWI-funded research flocks to determine the heritability of these traits and measure their impact, if any, on important production traits such as fleece weight, fibre diameter and body weight.
The fit-in-your-back-pocket guide includes full-colour photographs of the traits and corresponding scores, and is printed on durable, weatherproof paper to ensure its robustness. The guide has been developed in consultation with the nation's leading sheep researchers and woolgrowers and is designed for day-to-day use on-farm.
The Visual Breech Scores have also been developed with the aim of generating sufficient data to help Sheep Genetics Australia develop Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs) for each breech trait.
More information: copies of the Visual Breech Scores guide can be ordered via the AWI Helpline 1800 070 099.
Caption: Breeding bare-breech sheep is another industry initiative to beat the blowfly.
Photos: University of Adelaide; 'Calcookara Stud', Cowell, SA
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