The visit that I chose to analyze for
my blog is the visit to Trigger Vale where we met Andrew and Mandi Bouffler. It
was my favorite and one of the most intriguing Australian stops. This sheep
stud (seed stock) operation is located in Valera, New South Wales. Not only was
Mr. Bouffler very well educated, he was also well traveled. In my mind, this
helped them capitalize on genetic advancement and profitability. To relate this
back to scientific principles I’m going to refer back to what I learned in
breeding. Trigger Vale ran Polls and White Suffolk sheep. To be successful,
they place maximum selection pressure on the traits that directly drive their
client’s profitability: GROWTH, MEAT YIELD, FERTILITY, and WOOL TRAITS. In
order to achieve this, Trigger Vale measures and works to improve these
polygenic traits (traits affected by many genes) that influence commercial
profits by utilizing breeding values. More specifically, two sheep genetic
evaluation systems: Lambplan and Merinoselect. As an Agricultural Economics
double major I found it more interesting to take it a step further. Trigger
Vale incorporates indirect profit driving traits such as structural
correctness, adaptability, and temperament. Finally, they work to find a profit
maximization level, especially with traits that are negatively correlated
(traits that are linked and as one trait increases, the other decreases). To
accomplish profit maximization they do incorporate crossbreeding to capture
gains from hybrid vigor as well. In the end, I was very impressed with this
stop and learned quite a bit about the sheep industry in Australia.
To visit their website: Trigger Vale
Wool - this is very profitable in Australia
White Suffolk Rams
Tom was a little bottle lamb that the family was feeding
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