Genetic alternatives to mulesing and tail docking in sheep: A review

James, P. J. (2006) Genetic alternatives to mulesing and tail docking in sheep: A review. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 46 1: 1-18.


Author James, P. J.
Title Genetic alternatives to mulesing and tail docking in sheep: A review
Journal name Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank A)   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2006
Sub-type Review of research - research literature review (NOT book review
DOI 10.1071/EA05100
Volume number 46
Issue number 1
ISSN 0816-1089; 1836-5787
Start page 1
End page 18
Total pages 18
Place of publication Collingwood, Vic., Australia
Publisher CSIRO Publishing
Language eng
Abstract A genetic solution to breech strike control is attractive, as it is potentially permanent, cumulative, would not involve increased use of chemicals and may ultimately reduce labour inputs. There appears to be significant opportunity to reduce the susceptibility of Merinos to breech strike by genetic means although it is unlikely that in the short term breeding alone will be able to confer the degree of protection provided by mulesing and tail docking. Breeding programmes that aim to replace surgical techniques of flystrike prevention could potentially: reduce breech wrinkle; increase the area of bare skin in the perineal area; reduce tail length and wool cover on and near the tail; increase shedding of breech wool; reduce susceptibility to internal parasites and diarrhoea; and increase immunological resistance to flystrike. The likely effectiveness of these approaches is reviewed and assessed here. Any breeding programme that seeks to replace surgical mulesing and tail docking will need to make sheep sufficiently resistant that the increased requirement for other strike management procedures remains within practically acceptable bounds and that levels of strike can be contained to ethically acceptable levels.
Keyword Flystrike
Lucilia cuprina
Tail length
Q-Index Code C1
Q-Index Status Provisional Code
Institutional Status Non-UQ
Additional Notes Journal title since 2009: Animal Production Science

Document type: Journal Article
Sub-type: Review of research - research literature review (NOT book review
Collection: Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation
 
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