Sustainable Sheep Production – genetic aspects

About the authors Dr John Karlsson is a researcher and farmer interested in improving animal production and sustainability via genetic selection. Over the last 30+ years his work has predominantly revolved around optimum production and developing Merino Sheep fit for the local environment including breeding for parasite resistance. Until his recent retirement he was a Senior Veterinary Officer at the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (DAFWA). At DAFWA he initially worked on regulatory disease management programmes and providing general husbandry advice to livestock farmers, this identified research priorities for the local Sheep Industry. His daughter Annika recently completed her undergraduate degree with a double major in Zoology and Agricultural Science, at the University of Western Australia. Her postgraduate Honours degree (2014-2015) is focused on determining a link between potential olfactory cues and flystrike in the Merino sheep. Both Annika and her father are involved in the running of their family sheep farm (‘Majuba’) in Bridgetown, WA.