Other Indigenous Breeds Non-Descript Sheep Breeds Drivers

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Other Indigenous Breeds Non-Descript Sheep Breeds Drivers 1/25/2019 Other Indigenous Breeds • Namaqua Afrikaner - hardy, indigenous fat-tailed breed used in smallholder farming systems The Genomic Architecture of South African Mutton, Pelt • Blackhead Persian - initially introduced as a hair breed and Dual-purpose Sheep Breeds Relative to Global that is able to tolerate heat better than wool breeds Populations The breed is raised primarily for meat in SA • Karakul - originated from Central Asia, a multi-purpose Farai C. Muchadeyi, Agricultural Research Council-Biotechnology Platform, breed Gauteng, Pretoria, South Africa Swakara sheep derived from Karakul are raised predominantly for pelt [email protected] Edgar F. Dzomba, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, • Dorper - composite breed developed from South Africa interbreeding the Dorset Horn and the Persian breeds [email protected] Sheep Production in SA Non-descript Sheep Breeds • Vibrant sheep industry contributes significantly to the total livestock gross domestic product • Kept by village and smallholder farmers in the • Industrial breeds are reared on commercial farms with marginal areas of South Africa. extensively raised breeds found mainly in the smallholder areas • Uncharacterised sheep often referred to as • Three main production systems: 1. mutton, 2. wool, 3. pelt ecotypes and named after the ethnic groups also dual meat/wool breeds under which they are raised: • Smallholder communal farmers keep non-descript Nguni uncharacterised breeds for multiple purposes Pedi etc • Over 20 sheep breeds Merino & Merino-derived Breeds Drivers of Sheep Diversity in SA • SAMM developed in SA from the German Merino as a dual- purpose breed. • Natural and artificial selection processes • Merino-derived breeds were developed using the Merinos and Farmer-driven initiatives to crossbreed as an effort to develop other indigenous breeds i.e Blackhead Persian, Namaqua breeds that were better suited to produce optimally under the Afrikaner, and Damara harsh production conditions of the country • Objective was to improve the breed’s robustness while • Gene flow into and out of SA maintaining good production performance i.e Whilst sheep genetic resources of South Africa have spread to other Afrino (25% Merino, 25% Ronderib Afrikaner and 50% SA Mutton Merino) and thrives in the harshest conditions of SA countries globally, there have also been movement of breeds into South Africa. Meatmaster (SAMM and Damara sheep) improving the meat characteristics of fat-tailed sheep breeds and hardiness and suitability for • Such processes, though to some extend poorly desert documented, have shaped the genomic architecture of The Dohne Merino (Peppin-style Merino ewes and German Mutton Merino rams for high fertility and fine Merino wool under commercial the current gene pool of South African sheep. rangeland conditions 1 1/25/2019 Global Populations Aim Breed Region Sample size African Dorper African 21 i. Investigate genetic diversity, population genetic African White Dorper African 6 structure and divergence between breeds in order Ethiopian Menz African 34 to gain an insight into breed history and genomic Namaqua Afrikaner African 12 architecture of the various populations Red Maasai African 45 Ronderib Afrikaner African 17 ii. Assess breed relations and influence of exotic Bangladesh Garole Asian 24 breeds on the South African gene pool and vice Karakas Asian 18 versa by combining data with global sheep Australian Poll Dorset European 108 populations accessed from the International Sheep Australian Industry Merino European 50 Australian Poll Merino European 98 Genome Consortium (ISGC) Chinesse Merino European 23 http://www.sheephapmap.org MacArthur Merino European 10 Dorset Horn European 21 Merino landschaf European 24 Black headed Muttom European 24 SA-Sheep Breeds PCA-based Clustering - SA Breeds Breed Production system Number of samples South African Merino Dual- Purpose 56 Mutton Merino Mutton 10 Dohne Merino Dual-purpose 50 Meat Master Mutton 48 Blackhead Persian Mutton 14 Namaqua Afrikaner Mutton 12 Grey vital Swakara Pelt 22 Black vital Swakara Pelt 16 White vital Swakara Pelt 41 White subvital Swakwara Pelt 17 Karakul Pelt 10 Dorper Dual-purpose 23 Afrino Dual Purpose 51 Nguni Non-descript (unimproved) 30 PCA-based Clustering – SA with Global Genotyping & Data QC Population Breeds • Illumina OvineSNP50 BeadChip using the infinium assay platform at the Afrino South African Merino Australian Poll Merino Agricultural Research Council-Biotechnology Platform in South Africa Karakas Merinolandschaf Karakul Chinese Merino Swakara Australian Industry Merino South African mu on Merino • SNP genotypes called using genotyping module integrated in GenomeStudio™ V2010.1 (Illumina Inc.) Ethiopian Menz Red Massai Black Headed Mountain • The SNPs pruned for: Ronderib Afrikaner Namaqua Afrikaner missing genotypes (GENO) > 0.95, African Dorper African White Dorper Dorper genotype calling (MIND) > 0.95, Nguni Black Head Persian Meat Master minor allele frequency (MAF) > 0.01; and deviation from Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE > 0.0001) Dorset Horn Australian Poll Dorset 2 1/25/2019 Runs of homozygosity and fROH Per Population Pairwise FST iHS between Merino/Dorper, BHP/Dorper, Nguni/Dorper Swakara Pelt-producing Sheep • Swakara - fat-tailed sheep breed, important for pelt production for fashion industry • The white lambs of Swakara sheep experience a recessive sub-vital factor that hampers development at post weaning stage as lambs fail to digest feed (Schoeman et al., 1998) Sub-vital factor affects homozygous white lambs by hampering development resulting in death of lambs. • The sub-vital factor probably affected by genetic variants associated with colour & metabolic pathways Swakara sheep breed has undergone intensive selection during and following domestication. • OvineSNP50 to investigate genomic difference between colour subpopulations and its implications on sub-vital performance Breed-differentiating Genes & Gene Study Population & Genomic Scans Functions 1. Sample collection • Hair and blood samples were collected from 96 Swakara lambs of: Breed comparisons CHR SNPs Genes Functions (i) Black (16) (ii) White (58) (iii) Grey (22) BHP/Dorper; 3 S34488.1 QTLs ADG; Growth traits; Nguni/Dorper and OAR3_843 MF; SL & Muscle growth Merino/Dorper 301 MDLUMB3 and thickness Nguni/SAMM; 6 OAR6_648 EYS; Immune Nguni/DSH and 32803.1 GCNT1P4 response; • Animals were sampled from Namibia, Northern Cape (SA), & NQA/SAMM; OAR6_649 PHF3 Metabolic Halle, Germany from which the Swakara Sheep are thought to NQA/DSH 21019.1 pathways; have originated & genotyped on the Ovine SNP50K Growth traits 3 1/25/2019 Distribution of ROH Acknowledgements Genes Within ROH Summary 1. Sample collection • Diversity1. Sample observedcollection within and between SA sheep breeds • .GenomicHair and signaturesblood samples of ancestralwere collected populationsfrom 96 Swakaradefined lamband sustainedof: in crossbreds. Hair and andblood compositesamples were breedscollected i.e merinofrom 96 derivedSwakara breeds,lamb theof: BHP and (i) Black (16) (ii) White (58) (iii) Grey (22) NQA(i) Black effects(16 etc) (ii) White (58) (iii) Grey (22) • Genomics could provide the tools required for tackling some of the production challenges i.e : Swakara pelt producing sheep and subvital performance. Genomics and transcriptomics to investigate resistance to Haemonchus contortus in Dohne Merino Sheep (PE0226) • Ongoing analysis on breed specific parameters . Animal were sampled from Namibia, Northern Cape, & Halle, Germany from which the . Animal were sampled from Namibia, Northern Cape, & Halle, Germany from which the Swakara Sheep are thought to have originated. Swakara Sheep are thought to have originated. 4.
Recommended publications
  • Estimates of Efficiency of Dorper and Rambouillet Lambs
    ESTIMATES OF EFFICIENCY OF DORPER AND RAMBOUILLET LAMBS A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the College of Graduate Studies Angelo State University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree MASTER OF SCIENCE By Jessup Yeaman May 2011 Major: Animal Science ESTIMATES OF EFFICENCY OF DORPER AND RAMBOUILLET LAMBS by JESSUP CLAYTON YEAMAN APPROVED: Dr. Dan Waldron Dr. Micheal Salisbury Dr. B. Frank Craddock Dr. Gil Engdahl Dr. David Scott April 8, 2011 APPROVED: Dr. Brian May Dean of the College of Graduate Studies ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I wish to express my sincere appreciation to my committee members, Dr. Dan Waldron, Dr. Mike Salisbury, Dr. Frank Craddock, Dr. Gil Engdahl, and Dr. David Scott for their guidance, assistance, and encouragement throughout the course of this project. I would like to especially thank my thesis advisor Dr. Waldron for his invaluable assistance not only with the project itself, but with the preparation for my defense. Additionally, special thanks to Tim Willingham and the rest of the staff at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center in San Angelo, TX for all their work. Most importantly I would like to thank my entire family, especially my parents, for their all their support, love, and my Christian upbringing. iii ABSTRACT Feed intake and body weight were recorded on thirty-seven Dorper ram lambs and forty-two Rambouillet ram lambs from weaning to 61kg of body weight to determine feed conversion efficiency. The data were collected over a two year period. Lambs were progeny of 6 unrelated sires per breed. Lambs were approximately 90 days of age and 31kg body weight at the start of the trial.
    [Show full text]
  • Dorper Sheep and the Production of Lean Lamb in Arid Australia
    International Specialised Skills Institute Inc DORPER SHEEP AND THE PRODUCTION OF LEAN LAMB IN ARID AUSTRALIA Richard Knights International ISS Institute/DEEWR Trades Fellowship Fellowship supported by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, Australian Government ISS Institute Inc. MARCH 2010 © International Specialised Skills Institute ISS Institute Suite 101 685 Burke Road Camberwell Vic AUSTRALIA 3124 Telephone 03 9882 0055 Facsimile 03 9882 9866 Email [email protected] Web www.issinstitute.org.au Published by International Specialised Skills Institute, Melbourne. ISS Institute 101/685 Burke Road Camberwell 3124 AUSTRALIA March 2010 Also extract published on www.issinstitute.org.au © Copyright ISS Institute 2010 This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. This project is funded by the Australian Government under the Strategic Intervention Program which supports the National Skills Shortages Strategy. This Fellowship was funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. The views and opinions expressed in the documents are those of the Authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. Whilst this report has been accepted by ISS Institute, ISS Institute cannot provide expert peer review of the report, and except as may be required by law no responsibility can be accepted by ISS Institute for the content of the report, or omissions, typographical, print or photographic errors, or inaccuracies that may occur after publication or otherwise. ISS Institute does not accept responsibility for the consequences of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any person as a consequence of anything contained in, or omitted from, this report.
    [Show full text]
  • Lamb Meat Quality Progress Report Number 1. Preliminary Results of an Evaluation of Effects of Breed of Sire on Carcass Composition and Sensory Traits of Lamb1
    Lamb Meat Quality Progress Report Number 1. Preliminary Results of an Evaluation of Effects of Breed of Sire on Carcass Composition and Sensory Traits of Lamb1 S. D. Shackelford2, K. A. Leymaster, T. L. Wheeler, and M. Koohmaraie USDA, ARS, Roman L. Hruska U. S. Meat Animal Research Center Clay Center, Nebraska3 Introduction classified as general purpose (Dorset, Texel), dam (Rambouillet, Finnsheep, The sheep industry competes against beef, Romanov), sire (Suffolk, Composite), and pork, poultry, and fish for food dollars of hair (Katahdin, Dorper). To provide general consumers who have many choices of high- background information, a brief description quality meats. In this competitive of each breed is provided. environment, the sheep industry must monitor and react to changing preferences of Dorset. Dorset Horn sheep were imported consumers. A consumer-responsive goal of from England into the U.S. in 1885. A the sheep industry is consistent production mutation occurred in 1945 resulting in of uniform, safe, nutritious, lean lamb that development of Polled Dorset. The Dorset results in an enjoyable and pleasant eating breed is widely used as a general-purpose experience. It is possible that important breed for farm production. differences exist between breeds of sheep for traits that affect consumer perceptions of Texel. The Texel breed evolved in The lamb quality. Such breed effects have a Netherlands. It was imported from genetic basis and can be exploited by sheep Denmark and Finland by USDA-ARS in producers. Therefore, a potentially efficient 1985 and released to producers in 1990. method to improve lamb quality is to Several additional importations by the evaluate breed effects and then to private industry subsequently occurred.
    [Show full text]
  • O'reganthesis.Pdf (528.7Kb)
    SZENT ISTVÁN UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF VETERINARY SCIENCE Institute for Animal breeding, Nutrition and Laboratory Animal Science Department for Veterinary Genetics and Animal Breeding DEVELOPMENT AND USES OF EASY CARE SHEEP Written by: Amy O’Regan Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Andr ás Gáspárdy Head of Department Budapest 2014 Table of Contents 1. Introduction 3 1.1. Summary of easy care sheep 3 1.2. The easy care breeds 5 1.2.1. Easycare 5 1.2.2. Dorper 7 1.2.3. Katahdin 9 1.2.4. Wiltipoll 11 1.2.5. Exlana 13 2. Survey of literature 14 2.1. Materials and methods 14 2.2. Easy care traits 15 2.2.1. Wool shedding 15 2.2.2. Fly strike resistance 21 2.2.3. Foot rot resistance 24 2.2.4. Nematode resistance 25 2.2.5. Mothering ability 28 3. Conclusions 29 3.1. Current uses of easy care sheep 29 3.2. Future developments 30 4. Acknowledgement 31 5. References 32 6. Appendix (copyright declaration) 36 2 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 SUMMARY OF EASY CARE SHEEP An easy care sheep is a sheep that requires minimal shepherding, sheds its fleece, is a non- selective eater, has excellent mothering ability and has a higher resistance to common diseases such as fly strike. Easy care shedding sheep tend to come in two types, they either have a hair coat that is moulted yearly similar to other mammals or they have a short wool and hair fleece which is shed in early summer. These shedding sheep account for 10% of the world’s sheep population and include a large number of different breeds.
    [Show full text]
  • 12. Contamination
    12. Contamination Kerry Hansford Learning objectives • By the end of this topic you should have an understanding of: • The source of contamination: o contamination of wool origin; viz. urine-stained, pigmented and medullated fibres o contamination of non-wool origin, viz. wool packs, farm objects (including baling twine), mill packs and mill objects • The problems created by each form of contamination • Methods to minimise the risk of contamination • Future developments Key terms and concepts Urine-stained fibre, pigmented fibre, medullated fibre, dark and coloured fibres, exotic sheep, AWEX Code of Practice, Dark and Medullated Fibre Risk (DMFR) Scheme, Dark and Medullated Fibre (DMF) Test, testing standards, within-pack contamination, wool pack contamination. Introduction to the topic This topic describes the main forms for "contamination" occurring in the Australian wool clip. Contamination, which is considered a major issue by early and late stage processors, includes man-made fibres, dark and medullated fibres, skin pieces through to chemical residues. Generally contamination can be classified as being of wool or non-wool origin. Wool origin contamination takes the form of urine-stained, pigmented and medullated fibres. Contamination of non-wool origin includes vegetable matter and other animal fibres (e.g. dog or horse hair, alpaca fibre), as well as man-made products such as wool packs, baling twine, fertiliser bags, other yarns and fabrics, etc. This topic will consider the following forms of contamination: • contamination of wool origin; viz. urine-stained, pigmented and medullated fibres • contamination of non-wool-origin, viz. wool packs, farm objects (including baling twine), mill packs and mill objects.
    [Show full text]
  • Brief History of the Breed in Australia
    A Brief History of the Dorper and White Dorper sheep in Australia. SAABCO first introduced the breed into Australia in 1996 with the release of Dorper embryos for sale. Westcorp, the importer, was based in Perth and the majority of the embryos sold went into Western Australia, although some were bought by sheep breeders in the other states. White Dorper embryos were imported soon after going mainly onto farms in South Australia and NSW. The Ad which appeared in the Weekly Times for the SAABCO auction of the first Dorper embryos sold in Australia. Initially Australian farmers displayed lukewarm interest in the Dorper sheep. Their introduction was fairly low key, unlike the Damaras (introduced at the same time), which received full entrepreneurial promotion. Prices for early stock were very high as their numbers were few and it was a costly exercise getting animals on the ground. At this time a lot of traditional farmers had difficulty getting their heads around the concept of NOT shearing a sheep. It is not a breed that slots in where the Merino or traditional prime lamb breeds fitted. There is no necessity for annual shearing, mulesing, flystrike treatment, lice and tail docking. Because of their polyestrus breeding there is also no mating season; they can be mated at whatever time of the year suits their owner. The wool industry was quite derisive of the “exotic sheep breeds” arguing that the breed would contaminate wool clips. If the experience in South Africa was to be repeated the risk was not to the clip but to the dominant position held by the merino.
    [Show full text]
  • Why White Dorpers?
    WHY WHITE DORPERS? • Save time, money & sweat – no shearing, crutching, mulesing or dagging • Shed fleece readily – genetics available for very high shedding • High fertility – multiple births and excellent mothering • Fast growing, early weaning • Early maturing – commonly mate ewes at 9 months • With no set oestrus period, can lamb every 8 months • Or if you like you can run the ram with the ewes continuously • Replace wool with meat - multiple lambings means more return • Very good carcass traits with the meat highly regarded • Minimal fly strike or lice • Genetics available for good worm resistance • Very tough - can withstand all sorts of rough weather • Both strong maternal and excellent terminal traits in the one breed • White fleece means no colour contamination LUMANI WHITE DORPERS mob:0429087172 email: [email protected] JREYMOND & JM WILSON ABN 12 321 308 097 FURTHER INFORMATION The information below has been developed by Lumani White Dorpers, but has been partly sourced from the website of the Dorper Sheep Society of Australia (DSSA), of which Lumani White Dorpers is a member. See http://www.dorper.com.au/ Attributes Conformation The animal characteristically has a long, well-muscled, barrel shaped body with a broad rump. There is short white hair on the head and a short, loose light covering of hair and wool (wool predominating on the forequarter) and a natural clean underline. An even distribution of a thin layer of fat compliments the breed. The Dorper sheds its fleece avoiding the need for mustering for shearing, crutching and fly control. Production Characteristics Economical & Easycare Dorpers are an economical breed because of their excellent feed utilisation and conversion, they don't need shearing, crutching and mulesing, and they are disease resistant.
    [Show full text]
  • Final Repport
    final reportp Project code: SHGEN.011 Prepared by: Geoff Duddy Date published: April 2002 ISBN: 1 740362675 PUBLISHED BY Meat and Livestock Australia Limited Locked Bag 991 NORTH SYDNEY NSW 2059 New and Introduced Sheep Breeds in Australia Meat & Livestock Australia acknowledges the matching funds provided by the Australian Government to support the research and development detailed in this publication. This publication is published by Meat & Livestock Australia Limited ABN 39 081 678 364 (MLA). Care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication. However MLA cannot accept responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information or opinions contained in the publication. You should make your own enquiries before making decisions concerning your interests. Reproduction in whole or in part of this publication is prohibited without prior written consent of MLA. ...jr-----New and Introduced Sheep Breeds in Australia Table of Contents Introduction .............................................................................................................. 2 Fat Tail Breeds suited for Live Sheep Export ......................................................;. 3 Afrikaner .....................•............................................................................................. 4 Purebred Characteristics: ....................................................................................... 4 Introduction into Australia ......................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • 5. Wool Classing
    5. Wool Classing Stuart Macpherson Learning Objectives On completion of this topic you should have an understanding of: • Main breeds of sheep kept in Australia and their breed characteristics • Principles which underlie wool classification in Australia • Characteristics of wool fibre and their relationship to wool classification • Importance of wool preparation to achieve a quality clip Key terms and concepts Wool Harvesting, Wool Preparation, Code of Practice, Crossbreeding, Dual Purpose, Shedding Breeds, Classing Factors, Wool Characteristics, Skirting Technique, Wool Faults, Skirting Ratio. Introduction to the topic Wool from a large number of sheep is sorted and matched to obtain large, uniform batches suitable for processing. It is critical that the wool harvesting operation supplies wool of known and predictable characteristics to the wool processing industry. Where wool faults and contaminants occur, they can have serious consequences for processing. The aim of the AWEX Code of Practice for the AWEX Quality System, Preparation of Australian Wool Clips: The Woolclasser, 2007-2009 is to ensure that raw wool provided to the world’s wool trade is of a quality suitable to meet the diverse needs of processors. The AWEX Code of Practice aims to ensure: • presentation to the processor of lines of wool that are uniform in visible wool characteristics • minimal risk of contamination • accurate documentation. 5.1 Wool production and harvesting The production and harvesting stage covers the on-farm activities from the sheep through to the broker’s store. It discusses the progress of wool from the producer to the woolstore, including wool harvesting, handling and preparation practices that contribute to better processing performance.
    [Show full text]
  • Breed Characteristics • Adaptable.Dorper Sheep Are Able to Thrive in a Wide Variety of Climatic Conditions; from Arid to Semi Tropical Areas
    Breed Characteristics • Adaptable.Dorper Sheep are able to thrive in a wide variety of climatic conditions; from arid to semi tropical areas. They are suited to areas of 100mm - 760mm annual rainfall. • Economical. The concept behind the development of the Dorper Sheep was to develop a sheep that could give the maximum returns with the least inputs. Thus Dorpers have excellent feed utilisation and conversion abilities (ie they do well even on pasture with poor nutritional value where other sheep breeds would not thrive, thus converting a poor asset into profit). They require low levels of maintenance in comparison with most other sheep breeds, as they are a wool shedding sheep and therefore do not require shearing, crutching, mulesing, jetting, nor constant surveillance for fly strike. It is also claimed that they are disease resistant. • Good Grazing habits. Dorpers are non selective in their grazing, i.e. they eat everything , weeds and all. Other sheep breeds are highly selective in their grazing habits, preferring and only doing well on clovers and softer grasses. Dorpers like coarser grasses and woody weeds, and seem to do better if they have roughage in their diet. • Meat Production. Dorper lambs are only small at birth, but make rapid weight gains from that time . They are grazing by day 2 and fill out and grow very quickly. A live weight of 36kg can be reached by 3.5 - 4 months of age without difficulty; it optimum conditions much greater weights can be achieved. Meat processors like the Dorper and Dorper cross lambs because their carcasses have excellent meat yields and fat distribution.
    [Show full text]
  • Live Weight Parameters in Dorper, Damara and Australian Merino Lambs Subjected to Restricted Feeding
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA): Research Library Research Library Journal articles Research Publications 1-2013 Live weight parameters in Dorper, Damara and Australian Merino lambs subjected to restricted feeding Tim Scanlon DPIRD, [email protected] Andre M. Almeida Instituto de Investigação Científica rT opical & CIISA Andrew Van Burgel DPIRD, [email protected] Tanya Kilminster DPIRD, [email protected] John Milton University of Western Australia See next page for additional authors Follow this and additional works at: https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/j_article Part of the Agriculture Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, and the Sheep and Goat Science Commons Recommended Citation T.T. Scanlon, A.M. Almeida, A. van Burgel, T. Kilminster, J. Milton, J.C. Greeff, C. Oldham, Live weight parameters and feed intake in Dorper, Damara and Australian Merino lambs exposed to restricted feeding, Small Ruminant Research, Volume 109, Issues 2–3, 2013, Pages 101-106, ISSN 0921-4488, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2012.08.004. This article is brought to you for free and open access by the Research Publications at Research Library. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal articles by an authorized administrator of Research Library. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]. Authors Tim Scanlon, Andre M. Almeida, Andrew Van Burgel, Tanya Kilminster, John Milton, Johan C.
    [Show full text]
  • NSW Farmers' Association Level 6, Chandos Street St Leonards NSW
    Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Sheep Public Consultation May 2013 NSW Farmers’ Association Level 6, Chandos Street St Leonards NSW 2065 Ph: (02) 9478 1000 Fax: (02) 8282 4500 Email: [email protected] NSW Farmers’ Association Background The NSW Farmers’ Association (NSW Farmers) is Australia’s largest State farmer organisation representing the interests of its farmer members – ranging from broad acre, livestock, wool and grain producers, to more specialised producers in the horticulture, dairy, egg, poultry, pork, oyster and goat industries. Submission to Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Sheep Executive Summary NSW Farmers welcomes this opportunity to provide feedback from our members on the proposed Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Sheep. NSW Farmers advocates for best practice regulation in animal welfare and we encourage and promote to our members the need to apply a high standard of animal welfare. We understand that the development of these nationally consistent standards and guidelines for sheep is part of the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy (AAWS). We also understand that these are intended to replace the current Model Code of Practice (MCoP) for the Welfare of sheep and will be adopted into legislation if they are endorsed by the relevant Ministers. NSW Farmers supports Option A in the Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) which is the conversion of the proposed national standards into national voluntary guidelines. This is because NSW Farmers is not convinced that an additional layer of regulation will actually improve animal welfare outcomes as intended. The vast majority of producers already ensure that the welfare of animals in their care is upheld and for the minority of cases where this does not occur there is already legislation, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, which can be used to enforce minimum standards.
    [Show full text]