fbpx
Skip to main content

Mules Free

Our Journey to Mules Free
Breeding Objectives

Pooginook aims to breed robust fly strike resilient animals that require no mulesing. In 2018 we made a clear strategy to move the stud towards being mules free. We aim to maintain our fleece weight and quality, whilst significantly reducing the breech wrinkle.

POOGINOOK PRODUCTION

In 2020 we made the decision to move the poll stud to mules free. In 2021 we moved the horn stud this way. We have used our scale, extensive data, DNA genomics and know-how on the visuals, to make fast genetic progress on reducing the breech wrinkle on our sheep.

Webinar

Watch the webinar recording and hear from our experienced panellists, as they discuss their insights and experiences in the journey to no breech modification in sheep.

Discussion points include:
• Key threats to the wool and meat industry
• Meat and wool end-consumer demands
• Experiences in the move to no breech modification
• Breeding and management tools available to help make the move

View Recording

COMMERCIAL BENEFITS

Three main reasons Pooginook has moved to mules free:

1. Better welfare outcomes for our animals
We believe there are breeding and management alternatives to reduce fly strike risk that provide better animal welfare outcomes.

2. We are in-line with our end-consumers expectations
Consumers expect the best animal welfare practices.

3. It’s an economic decision
- There are premiums in the wool market for wools within certain specifications
- More market access with more bidders for our product
- Improved weight gain post marking

We have found the move to be simply more profitable, with better animal welfare outcomes

MULES FREE RAM SHOWING HIGH PRODUCTION

  • DNA POLL TEST: PP
    TAG: 223866
    BIRTHTYPE: 1

    MerinoSelect Run 21 August 2023

      ASBV INDUSTRY RANKING
    PWWT 5.2
    YFAT 0.1
    YEMD 1.1
    YFD -1.2
    YCFW 28.1 Top 20%
    ACFW 23.9 Top 20%
    YSL 12.7
    EBWR -0.6 Top 30%
    Get in Touch
    Industry Percentile Bands
    MULES FREE PRODUCTION TRAITS

    • EARLY BREECH WRINKLE (EBWR)

      Early Breech Wrinkle (Score) - Ewes with a lower breech wrinkle will produce progeny that have a lower degree of wrinkle in the breech area. Pooginook collects this raw data at lamb marking and importantly again at 12 months of age. Additionally, we are using 50k DNA genomics testing to improve the EBWR ASBV accuracy.

      OUR BREEDING OBJECTIVE

      We are aiming to move the breeder's overtime to average -0.5 EBWR. Given the scale of the stud, this will mean there will be a range of sale rams that will suit clients breeding strategies. Clean fleece weight and quality will be closely monitored to ensure we maintain them.

      To maintain the quality, we are visually selecting for deep crimping white lustrous wool with a bundled lock structure, growing from a loose pliable plain skin. Adult clean fleece weight is the ASBV we use to measure the maintenance of the wool cut. 

      ASBVs on this graph are PGK breeders showing the genetic trend

    • ADULT CLEAN FLEECE WEIGHT (ACFW)

      Adult Clean Fleece Weight (%) - Ewes with higher ACFW ASBVs produce progeny which will cut more wool as an adult (> 18 months).

      OUR BREEDING OBJECTIVE

      Since the move to no breech modification, we have focused on maintaining clean fleece weight. The above graph shows a reduced breech wrinkle while on the ACFW graph tells us adult clean fleece weights have maintained. We collect yearling and adult clean fleece weights on the breeders to strengthen the ASBV accuracies. 

      By plaining the skin without careful selection, you can reduce clean fleece weight. In order to maintain our current clean fleece weights we are balancing staple length, follicle density, yield and surface area. Visual assessment is also being used to select for soft pliable skins.

      ASBVs on this graph are PGK breeders showing the genetic trend

    • YEARLING FIBRE DIAMETER (YFD)

      Yearling Fibre Diameter (µm) - Ewes with more negative YFD ASBVs produce progeny which are finer as a yearling (10-13 months).

      OUR BREEDING OBJECTIVE
      To maintain fleece value, we are ensuring micron doesn't increase while improving other traits such as breech wrinkle, staple length, carcass and fast early growth.

      ASBVs on this graph are PGK breeders showing the genetic trend

      High Performance Areas