In This Section |
OMAFRA Sheep Seminars 2009
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| Author: | Christoph Wand - Beef Cattle and Sheep Nutritionist/OMAFRA |
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| Creation Date: | 11 September 2009 |
| Last Reviewed: | 15 October 2009 |
November 10, 2009 Atwood
Elma Memorial Community Centre
8:45 am to 4:00 pm
November 12, 2009 Napanee
Napanee Lions Community Hall
8:45 am to 4:00 pm
Registration: 8:45 am
Program begins at 9:10 am to 4 pm
Telephone: 1-877-424-1300
By Email: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca
Website: www.ontario.ca/livestock
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.
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
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
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 = $________
If paying by credit card, please provide:
Visa or Mastercard #_______ _______ _______ _______
Expiry Date _____/_____ Amount $___________
Name of Cardholder _________________________
Signature ________________________________
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
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