UI Receives $209K Grant To Help Combat Disease In Sheep

The University of Idaho was recently awarded a $209,595 grant from the Idaho Global Entrepreneurial mission Council.  The money will be used to fund an ongoing project designed to help minimize the impact of diseases in sheep, as well as provide genetic testing.  The UI says the research will help sheep producers employ an inexpensive test that will reduce economic losses in flocks.

“This grant money will be a tremendous asset for further research and development of Flock54,” said animal science professor Brenda Murdoch.

Specifically, it will allow her research team in Meridian to increase the number of genetic traits reportable and create indexes for production traits that are so crucial to producers. The team will also create a new online reporting tool so that producers can submit data with their DNA samples and receive their genetic report via this new online tool.

Murdoch is fine-tuning the Flock54 genomic test that provides a broad picture of a sheep’s “catalog” of genes. Variants or mutations in those genes can make the animal vulnerable to diseases such as ovine progressive pneumonia (OPP) or improve the animal’s weight gain and carcass quality.

RILE Ag is a subsidiary of Superior Farms, which works with sheep producers responsible for a third of the nation’s flocks.

“I am excited for RILE Ag and Superior Farms to continue our partnership with Dr. Murdoch at the U of I to enhance and improve genetics within the American lamb industry,” said Lesa Eidman, director of producer resources and sustainability for Superior Farms and director of RILE Ag.  “The opportunity to improve the U.S. sheep flock with genetic improvement and Flock54 testing is tremendous, and I am excited to be part of this groundbreaking technology for the sheep industry.”

Idaho’s sheep industry ranks sixth nationally with 1,200 producers and 255,000 head of breeding sheep and lambs. The Idaho producers are part of the Superior Farms supply chain and are critical to the American sheep industry.  The sheep test will cost less than $20 per animal. The test is capable of identifying an animal’s susceptibility to major diseases, a broad range of genetic traits and the animal’s parentage.

If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekradio.com