Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics Conference: 25th anniversary sends clear message of commitment

The 25th Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics Conference held for three days at the University of WA served up a smorgasbord of future breeding topics presented by some of the best experts in the business. The conference made a return to Perth after it was last held at UWA in 2011 and will move to New Zealand in 2025. The international event held from July 26 to 28 included the UWA Producer Day (July 27) that brought the biggest crowd of 226 who heard from some of the more than 100 scientific speakers across the three days. It was a return to the face-to-face format after the 2021 conference based in South Australia was held online due to COVID-19. The day two producer day included one of the most contentious discussions centred on what a panel of professionals and a WA sheep producer thought was the ideal body size of an adult Merino ewe. AAABG committee president Bronwyn Clarke, who is a quantitative sheep geneticist with significant contracts with Murdoch University and chair of the Western Australian Livestock Research Council, said the theme of the conference was Animal Breeding at the Crossroads. “This AAABG conference is special — it’s the 25th conference of our organisation that is committed to the advancement of genetics research in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and other parts of the world,” she said. “The aim of the organisation when it was set up was to bring everyone with an interest in the advancement of genetics in livestock breeding together — including scientists and producers. “This conference is a reflection on the association’s achievements in animal breeding since the inaugural AAABG conference in 1979 and explores the role of animal breeding in a future with an ever-increasing community concern for climate change, environmental impacts, animal welfare and meat consumption.” Dr Clarke said the conference touched on the latest advancements in animal-breeding research and development. The first day of the conference was opened by Kojonup mixed cropping and sheep farmer Lynley Anderson who expressed gratitude to all the research and advances in animal breeding and genetics that science delivers. “My industry progresses because of those that do the research and the discussions and extensions they provoke,” she said. “When I returned to the family farm 30 years ago, the attraction was the challenge to do better, especially when the foundations are constantly shifting and changing — whether against varying seasons, market upheaval, government regulations, family relationships, bushfires, floods and droughts. “These challenges keep life interesting, stimulating and keep me always learning — fortunately I come from a long line of innovative and progressive farmers.” Ms Anderson said through research such as the papers presented at the conference and those who extended that information, farmers were able to maintain a social licence. “This is critical to retain the support and trust from our customers and the wider public and to demonstrate how farmers are having a positive impact on the climate and environment, and have happy, healthy animals,” she said.