AUSTRALIA’S first ram selection app will hit the road next week as the Sheep CRC takes its latest genetic tool to the nation’s major agricultural field days.

Sheep CRC staff, leading breeders and farm consultants will man the Telstra stand at AgQuip in Gunnedah from August 18-20 armed with the new RamSelect app to boost uptake among commercial sheep producers.

The RamSe;lect roadshow will then head to Dowerin Machinery Field Days in WA from August 26-27 and onto the Henty Machinery Field Days in New South Wale’s Riverina from September 22-24.

The app’s software allows commercial ram buyers to access Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs) information on rams without the need for a detailed understanding of the data. By moving a button on the app’s slider bar-based display, ram buyers can refine their focus on, or relative preference for individual traits, rank rams in a sale catalogue or select to a defined breeding objective.

Sheep CRC chief executive James Rowe said the web-based app, RamSelect.com.au, is a game-changer for the sheep breeding industry in Australia.

“Together with Telstra, we want to make sure as many people as possible are aware of this valuable genetic selection tool.

“At the field days the team will have the app on display on a number of iPads at the Telstra site, allowing producers to engage directly with the people who helped develop this tool, and learn how they can maximise the benefits it offers.”

RamSelect.com.au was developed by the Sheep CRC in conjunction with Telstra and US software developer Pivotal Labs in San Francisco. The NSW Department of Primary Industries has also had extensive involvement through the development of the app, providing expertise from the initial concept to the final product.

The web-based app builds upon the popular RamSelect training workshops which have helped thousands of sheep producers to use profitably use genetic technologies to bolster their production. More information is available from www.sheepcrc.com.au

Source: Sheep CRC