Julia Aspinall, principal of Genetic Gains Ltd. has specialized in animal breeding since 1985 and now in 2011 is heavily involved in some of New Zealand's most intensive genetic reproduction operations. These include a large angora goat programme, LambXL's "New Breed" Quarantine, Silver stream's East Friesians, Tara Hills' Superfine Merinos and numerous on-farm programme's. Julia has a B.H.Sc, M.Sc. and NZIM Dip. Mgt. Genetic Gains was established in 1995 and is based in Invercargill, New Zealand. In 1999 Genetic Gains Ltd became a registered company.

Coopworth, Marlow 5203/04 leaves very well muscled progeny and has consistently ranked very highly for dual purpose traits. His straws qualify for export to Australia.

Romney, Blythburn 409/06 Excellent conformation, is strong in maternal traits. Gene tests show  highest resistance to foot-rot and cold tolerance. Carries the  MyoMAX  gene straws, export to Australia are available.

Coopworth, Marlow 144/08 ranks within the top 3% for growth and 9% for meat yield in the January 2012 NZ Coopworth analysis. His straws qualify for export to Australia.

Romney, Tresco 147/01 produces daughters with very strong maternal traits. A limited number of straws are available.

Texel, Tamlet 323/07

Texel, Tamlet 323/07 is the second highest proven ram for a terminal sire index including growth and meat yield on the NZ Texel list in January 2012.

Texel, Blackdale 447/03 Dual purpose and terminal sire. Won prizes at shows, and been a top priced ram at sales. Two copies of MyoMAX muscling gene.

Texel The Burn XA2/99 is a consistent breeder that leaves structurally sound lambs. Has very even fleece, finer micron, black feet. Straws are available for use in NZ and Australia.

Te Rakau 92724's sire imported embryo from UK. Sire's pedigree includes impressive winners and top prices UK Shows/sales, straws imported into New Zealand.

Perendale, Hazeldale 1106/08 has left lambs with very good weaning weights. His breeding value for autumn live weight is also excellent.

Romney, Nithdale 457/00 was the top sire for Southern Romney Development Group for 2004 and 2005. He ranks 12th of 777 sires in the ACE (across breed evaluation) for six major production traits including worm resistance.

Perendale, Hazeldale 542/02 is a well proven, high performing sire. He leaves well muscled very high growth rate lambs with excellent fecundity.

Suffolk, Waterton Y302/07 is ranked 2 for a terminal sire index including growth and meat yield in the current NZ Suffolk analysis (May 2011).

Wiltshire, Whata L635/03 is an excellent shedder. On arrival at the AB Centre he had only a small tuft of wool on each back leg remaining.

Perendale, Bonnieview 55/01 provides  a ram well in production and disease resistant. From a flock of 1500 fully recorded ewes, farmed under tough organic standards.

Suffolk, Nithdale 48/05 has been bred in a relatively challenging environment. He has performed very well for terminal sire traits, particularly growth.

Charollais Sheep NZ 10/10 is the top 2010 born Charollais for growth. He has developed into the largest and most heavily muscled ram.

Charollais, Dannengate 302/10 is the best example of the Charollais shape from all sale rams at Dannengate. He is a thickly muscled ram from a sire line previously unavailable in NZ.

Greeline, The Gree 1560/03 is a high performing sire for Greeline Composites. This breed is 1/4 East Friesian, 3/8 Texel and 3/8 Coopworth.

Corriedale, Rosebank 42/00 is a moorit ram with an excellent quality fleece for handcraft.

Straws are available for export to North America.

Coopworth, Cairnlea 279/07 is a very high ranking ram on production traits, especially Reproduction, Growth and Meat. Straws are available for export to Australia.

Sufftex, Nithdale 325/06 provides breeders with an opportunity to use a black face sire with a double copy of the MyoMAX gene.

TEFRom 400/09 is a high performing sire with a naturally clear breech and sound fleece.

TEFRom, Twin Farm 807/07's progeny have an exceptionally fast growth rate and a high lambing percentage.

We offer on-farm reproduction services for sheep including intrauterine (laparoscopic) Artificial Insemination (AI). The average conception rate is 75% with frozen-thawed semen or 85% when fresh semen is used. AI provides breeders with the opportunity to try elite sires they wouldn't otherwise have access to.

For New Zealand breeders, it may also may provide you with the opportunity to strengthen links or 'connectedness' of their flock to others in their breeding  group. Use of AI should help to improve the profitability of your flock for at least one production trait.

(MOET).
The average embryo hold rate from fresh transfers is 75%. Years of experience have led us to a surgical technique which presents a minimum of risk to the integrity of the ewe's reproductive tract, and which minimises scars on the abdomen. We also import and export frozen embryos.

If you have not been involved with SIL recording before, we explain to you why it is important for ram breeders to belong to the SIL database, discuss which records are of most benefit to you, when to record them and how to make the best use of the reports.

We offer you the option of recording manually using paper pre-lists which list the IDs of the relevant animals in your flock, or electronically using Gene Capture, our hand held data logger with a programme especially developed for SIL users.

We recognise the fact that as a breeder, you spend a lot of time and effort collecting records, and that accurate data entry and reports. We double check every record we manually enter onto the database, and communicate with you about any mistakes in records e.g. duplicate lamb tags.

Gene Capture users receive a 20% discount on our services, improved accuracy of record collection, and save you hours of time. The Gene Capture programme has special features for individual requirements e.g. multiple flocks, prefixes for Texel lamb tags etc.

We tailor-make reports to suit your individual requirements, and suggest options which may be of benefit to you.

We prepare a newsletter of topical and technical information three times a year, and are very keen to discuss your breeding programme.

Use of rams achieving an average rate of genetic improvement (compared to no genetic improvement) results in an increase in cumulative net profit of tens of thousands of dollars for an average sheep farmer over ten years. Use of elite rams (compared to average rams) can more than double a breeders rate of genetic improvement as well as cumulative net profit (see graph below). AI and MOET helps breeders to achieve a rapid rate of genetic improvement and thus high value ram sales. AI with frozen-thawed semen allows use of elite sires even after they are injured or dead.

Genetic improvement, cumulative profit, 3 sheep generations.

Email   Julia@Genetic-Gains.co.nz
Phone 03 2163455  -  Fax +64 3 2163405
Phone from outside NZ 001164 3 2163455
PO Box 7102 Invercargill New Zealand.

             Related links ...

• For information on New Zealand Romneys, visit www.romney.co.nz
• For information on artificial breeding services for cattle and deer.
  visit www.premiergenetics.co.nz.
• www.sil.co.nz helps ram breeders and buyers make the most of SIL.
• www.alphasheepgenetics.co.nz meets the requirements of current and future market trends for meat and wool.