Australian Merino Sire Evaluation Association (AMSEA) and includes progeny testing results from some of

Australia’s top Merino rams entered in any one of the 14 sire evaluation sites around Australia.

AMSEA Chairperson, Knox Heggaton, said Merino Superior Sires allows ram breeders and commercial

woolgrowers to make direct comparisons between rams evaluated at different sites by separating

differences between animals that are a result of the environment and from those caused by the genes the

animal carries.

Each year individual sire evaluation sites join between 10 and 20 rams are with up to 60 ewes each through

artificial insemination. A number of link sires are used in common between sites and over several

consecutive years at each site, to create genetic linkage and the basis for national comparisons across

different years and locations.

The resulting progeny are objectively measured as either yearlings or hoggets, with most sites carrying out

a second measurement as adults for a wide range of commercially important traits including fibre diameter,

fleece weight, staple strength, worm egg count, eye muscle depth as well as visual traits for wool quality,

conformation and breech traits in line with the recently released Visual Sheep Scores developed by

Australian Wool Innovation and Meat and Livestock Australia.

Mr Heggaton also welcomed two new sire evaluation sites that have commenced operation in 2008. “These

new sites located at Longreach in QLD and Trangie in NSW add further to the environmental diversity in

which sire evaluation now operates in.” Mr Heggaton said. “With discussions continuing in other areas, it is

hoped that soon every ram breeders in Australia will have access to a sire evaluation site operating in their

own environment.”

“Sire Evaluation would not succeed without the involvement of the dedicated group of ram breeders and

supporters that manage each site, together with the valuable financial support of both Australian Wool

Innovation and Meat and Livestock Australia.” Mr Heggaton added.

Ben Swain, Executive Officer of AMSEA, confirmed that future editions of Merino Superior Sires will be

published much earlier. “AMSEA recognises that the large number of Australian ram breeders that use

Merino Superior Sires, have a desire to access the information earlier.” Mr Swain said. “To achieve this

Merino Superior Sires will be made available in October of each year and the Merino Superior Sires

website will be updated every time new information is available from any of the sites.”

Copies of Merino Superior Sires are being distributed through State Stud Merino Breeders Associations or

can be requested directly from AMSEA by ringing (02) 6743 2306. The Merino Superior Sires website can

be found at www.merinosuperiorsires.com.au