We’re aiming for insights that enable sustainable progression
Our goal is to provide clear, evidence-based answers to some of the biggest questions facing sheep farming in New Zealand.
This work isn't about replacing traditional sheep farming.
It's about evolving it—by providing farmers with options and tools to navigate change and make confident decisions for the future.
The insights won’t just tell us what works, they’ll tell us what can be improved over time, and what’s ready for commercial rollout.
Lower-methane sheep: can we breed for it? +
Methane is 35% of NZ ag emissions and 2–10% energy loss to the animal. It’s heritable, and selecting low emitters doesn’t reduce performance.
Feed efficiency: do less-efficient animals eat into your bottom line? +
RFI shows up to 20% variation between genetic extremes. High heritability means we can select for it.
Immune strength: is it in the genes? +
We’re exploring how to measure immune competence and whether there’s genetic variability in NZ flocks.
Heat tolerance: who can keep growing when others slow down? +
We’re testing which animals maintain performance in high heat and humidity, and whether those traits can be bred for.
Shedding: a smart way to cut labour and cost? +
Shedding is strongly genetically controlled. We’re studying speed, extent, and seasonality of shedding, plus wool traits like bareness and fleece characteristics.