OMAFRA Sheep Seminars 2009

“Hey Ewe! What’s in Your Genes?”

Selecting Genetics for the 21st century Sheep Industry

Date and Locations

November 10, 2009 – Atwood

Elma Memorial Community Centre
8:45 am to 4:00 pm

November 12, 2009 – Napanee

Napanee Lion’s Community Hall
8:45 am to 4:00 pm

Registration: 8:45 am

Program begins at 9:10 am to 4 pm

Contact Information

Telephone: 1-877-424-1300

By Email: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca

Website: www.ontario.ca/livestock

Program Highlights

Keynote Speaker

Dr. Mark Young
Sheep Improvement Limited (SIL) Geneticist, Meat & Wool New Zealand

Dr. Mark Young is the Geneticist for Sheep Improvement Limited (SIL), the New Zealand system for performance recording and genetic evaluation of sheep that is funded by Meat & Wool New Zealand and by sheep breeder user fees. Previously he lectured at Lincoln University (1980-1996) and was a scientist at the Scottish Agricultural College in Edinburgh, Scotland (1997-2001) where he investigated carcass tissue development and energy storage in sheep, and in developing ways to incorporate these into breeding programs.

In his current work with SIL, Mark frequently talks at farmer meetings and at breed society conferences on various aspects of performance measurement and genetic evaluation. He regularly writes articles for the rural press and has developed much of the technical material available to industry on the SIL website (www.sil.co.nz).

Mark is currently developing a web-based search tool to locate flocks with sheep genetically rated for different combinations of user selected traits and also to identify individual sheep that meet specified criteria for user selected levels of genetic merit for selected traits. He is also involved in work to blend DNA based genetic estimates of genetic merit with performance and pedigree based breeding values to improve the accuracy of selection.

Program Details

Genomics What is it and where is it going? - advantages, disadvantages - How does it fit in? Dr. Steve Miller, Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock

What is the New Zealand vision for sheep genetics where they are now and where they plan to be in 10-15 years Dr. Mark Young, Sheep Improvement Limited

What is Ontario's Vision? Delma Kennedy, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

Establishing breeding goals and monitoring performance - what traits are most important to your business? Mike McMorris, Beef Improvement Opportunities

Choosing on farm software for keeping production and genetic records - Delma Kennedy, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

What gene testing is available now and what is being worked on? Dr. Mark Young, Sheep Improvement Limited

Current genetics research at U of G. Dr. Steve Miller, Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock

What can you afford to pay for genetics? Dr. Mark Young, Sheep Improvement Limited

Short panel discussion with genetics experts - Do you think there are big gains to be made in efficiency with ruminants and in what area would they be? What are sheep producers going to have to do to remain competitive in the marketplace? Where do you see sheep genetic improvement going in the next 10 years? Panel - Mike McMorris, Dr. Steve Miller and Dr. Mark Young

• Registration includes a hot lamb lunch and proceedings.

Draft Agenda:

Print Draft Agenda pdf (69 kb)

8:45 - Registration

9:10 - Introductions and Welcome

9:20 - Meet the Trade Show Participants/World Genetics Overview

9:30 - Improving Animal Production Through Genomics - Dr. Steve Miller, Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock

10:00 - New Zealand's Vision for the Future - Dr. Mark Young, Sheep Improvement Limited

10:30 - What is Ontario's Vision - Delma Kennedy, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

10:45 - BREAK/Farm Level Genetics

11:15 - Genetic Improvement on-Farm: What's Important - Breeds or Traits? Mike McMorris, Beef Improvement Ontario

12:05 - LUNCH

1:10 - Monitoring Your Farm Business: Choosing On-Farm Software - Delma Kennedy, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

1:40 - Opportunities with Gene Testing - Dr. Mark Young, Sheep Improvement Limtied

2:10 - Genetic Research in Ontario - Dr. Steve Miller, Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock

2:40 - What Can You Afford to Pay for Genetics? - Dr. Mark Young, Sheep Improvement Limited

3:10 - BREAK

3:30 - The Future: What Will Sheep and Flocks Look Like? - Panel Discussion - Mike McMorris, Dr. Steve Miller and Dr. Mark Young

4:00 - ADJOURN

Registration Form

Name: ____________________________________________________

Address: __________________________________________________

Postal Code: ___________________ Phone: _____________________

Attending: ___________ Atwood, Tuesday Nov. 10

Attending: ___________ Napanee, Thurs. Nov. 12

Early Registration (up to Nov. 3) $42.00 (includes 5% GST, lunch and proceedings)

_____ Participant(s) X $42.00 = $________

Late Registration (after Nov. 3) $57.75

_____ Participant(s) X $57.75 = $________

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Make cheques payable to Minister of Finance

Mail to: Agriculture Information Contact Centre
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs
1 Stone Road, West, 4th Floor
Guelph, ON N1G 4Y2

Fax: 519-826-3442