@article {3672,
	title = {INVITED REVIEW: A review of the current sheep industry in New Zealand and opportunities for change to meet future challenges},
	journal = {New Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production},
	volume = {81},
	year = {2021},
	month = {01/2022},
	pages = {1-15},
	address = {Online},
	abstract = {<p>Like all farming systems, sheep operations face increasing economic, environmental, cultural, and social challenges, including climate change and consumer expectations about their food. Genetic improvement has the potential to help with these challenges. This review explores the importance of genetic improvement on welfare and disease traits in meeting these challenges. For all wool breeds, there is a need for traits such as being polled, having a short tail and having a bare breech and a bare belly to ensure an ethical outcome. Sheep that either seasonally lose their fleece, or do not grow wool, represent an opportunity. Predicted climate change poses significant animal-health challenges, including the internal parasite Haemonchus contortus, facial eczema, flystrike and pneumonia, that are likely to encroach on a wider geographic range. Given consumer expectations around reduced chemical inputs and improved animal welfare, genetic improvement will play a critical role in developing sheep that are more tolerant to such health challenges. While several key physical characteristics required for the future exist in minor breeds currently in New Zealand, their performance under a range of New Zealand commercial farming conditions has not been evaluated. Some overseas breeds, such as Katahdin and Barbados Blackbelly, may offer opportunities. Consideration needs to be given to the use of novel gene pools both within and outside the New Zealand sheep industry for it to be able to meet future challenges. To achieve this end, more information is needed about the overall merit of these novel breeds, to be able to identify the best strategy to take towards breeding sheep that address the future needs of the New Zealand sheep industry. Keywords: sheep; genotypes; breeding; future</p>
},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {PL Johnson and Newman S-AN and Mcrae KM and van der Weerden T and Brown M and Scobie DR}
}
@conference {75893,
	title = {The importance of sustainable food production for our markets},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {71},
	year = {2011},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {149-152},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	address = {Invercargill},
	abstract = {New Zealand market advantage is at the "top-end" of value, in the production of sustainable, superior quality, highly valued protein. Enhancing our image as the "garden of the pacific", will lead to greater opportunities for economic growth and a prosperous red meat industry, while at least maintaining, if not improving, our natural resources. This paper discusses what sustainable food production means and identifies some of the expectations of our international markets. The paper also briefly describes how Alliance Group Limited is responding to improving sustainable food production. Strategies outlined include improving farm practices, processing capabilities and improving quantity and quality of product.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Brown M and Butler D}
}
