Lifetime Productivity (AMSEA) Project

AWI and the Australian Merino Sire Evaluation Association have teamed to deliver the 10-year (2015-25) Merino Lifetime Productivity Project. The project is designed to capture lifetime data across diverse environments and Merino types to help better understand and deliver Merino ewe lifetime performance outcomes for the Australian Merino industry. Sire evaluation trials operate for the first two years and combine with tracking of the performance of ewe progeny as they proceed through four to five joinings and annual shearings. A full suite of assessments will be undertaken during the project including visual trait scoring, classer gradings, the objective assessment of a range of key traits and index evaluations. The resultant unique and extensive dataset will be used to enhance existing Merino breeding and selection strategies.