Animal Breeding Experiment (AB1) - wool selection flocks Cunnamulla and Armidale

AB1 was the first Animal Breeding (AB) Experiment of the Division of Animal Genetics, Section of Animal Breeding of CSIRO. The project was run at “Gilruth Plains”, Cunnamulla, QLD, from 1947 – 1964 and after that at “Longford” Field Station, Armidale, NSW, 1966 - 1978 (Note: no animals born in 1958, 1960 or 1965) Research Leader was Dr Helen Newton Turner until retirement in 1973, then Dr Neville Jackson until the experiment concluded in 1978. The selection experiment included "s" and "ms" Lines - Selection for high clean wool weight while maintaining wool quality in medium peppin merino flocks. Compares two methods of maintaining wool quality - selection against low crimp frequency (ms) versus selection against high fibre diameter (s). Has now demonstrated that progress in clean wool weight is greater if diameter is used to control quality. Line s - selected on high clean wool weight per head, with rejection on high wrinkle and high diameter (1947-1978) Line ms - selected on high clean wool weight per head, with rejection on high wrinkle and low crimp (1947-1975) Line c - random bred control line 1950-1970