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Weeding out the black sheep
18 Dec 2003
The Australian Sheep Industry CRC and CSIRO Livestock Industries are investigating which Merino sheep genes are responsible for producing black or piebald offspring. While the Australian Merino is renowned for its uniformly white fleece, a substantial proportion of the nation's flock may carry gene(s) that cause coloured wool. A white ram carrying pigmentation genes can produce a significant number of pigmented offspring. It would be advantageous to producers and ram breeders if these carriers could be detected via an alternative to the current expensive process of "parentage testing".
The research project aims to identify the genes responsible for the whole-colour black and spotted pigmentation of Merino wool. DNA-based tests would be developed to detect these pigmentation genes in white sheep. The tests will be inexpensive and could be used for routine screening.
The project team leader, Dr Belinda Norris, would like ram breeders to participate by providing detailed records of any pigmented animals in their flocks and blood samples from the pigmented animals, their sires and dams. The information would be treated as confidential. The phone number to contact Dr Norris is 07 3214 2282.
CSIRO Media Release, 16/12/03.
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