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andydp
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Joined: 23 Sep 2003
Posts: 8122
Location: Upstate NY near Albany
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 Posted: 08/16/06 - 15:27 Post subject: Obviously a major concern
I wonder if they're doing the same survey in Montana ? Do the cute sheep get prizes ?
Hunt for ugly sheep
Australian farmers are being asked to report any ugly sheep found in the flock.
Scientists want to study the sheep so they can improve the wool quality of the prized merino variety.
The "Xtreme sheep" campaign was launched after only 10 ugly lambs were spotted in this year's lambing season.
Scientists at the South Australian Research and Development Institute say the "random genetic mistakes" in ugly lambs can speed up the search for the genes critical in good wool making.
Sardi project leader Simon Bawden said lambs with "extreme and even undesirable features" can help unlock the merino's genetic library and "identify superior wool qualities".
The ugly markers include falling clumps of wool, wrinkled skin, odd fibres or no wool at all reports news.com.au.
Bawden said that by using DNA technology, scientists could help give wool more advantages in the competition with synthetic fibres by making it less scratchy and more shiny and stretchy.
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