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CSIRO MEDIA RELEASE 96/89

26 September 1996

WORM 'NEMESIS' PROMISES DRUG-FREE SHEEP

A world-first project to make Australian Merino sheep resistant to parasitic worms will save woolgrowers tens of millions of dollars as well as lower the use of chemicals in the food chain.

Grazier and former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser is one of twelve sheep breeders who have volunteered to take part in Project Nemesis -- a national technology transfer program designed to boost the ability of sheep to control their own parasites.

Research over more than 20 years at CSIRO's Division of Animal Production at Armidale, NSW, has demonstrated beyond doubt that sheep can be bred which have broad-based genetic immunity to worms, says Dr Sandra Eady.

With 90 per cent of Australian sheep farms afflicted by worms resistant to chemical drenches, and resistance now reported to almost all drenches on the market, the new technology has come just in time.

Nemesis helps breeders to select rams which have a high natural resistance to parasites, she says. This can enable breeders to halve the number of worms in their flock over three to four generations.

"We believe that breeding sheep which resist worms is vital to the sustainability of wool production in the wetter areas of Australia, where worms are a serious problem, costing the industry in total over $220 million a year.

"It will save graziers millions of dollars and substantially reduce the use of chemicals. It will enable some sheep to be produced entirely drug-free." Project Nemesis is supported by Australian woolgrowers through the International Wool Secretariat.

Mr Fraser said that developing worm-resistant sheep was very important given the widespread resistance of worms to chemical treatments. "It is critical that stud breeders, especially in high rainfall climates, take the lead," he said.

More information:

Dr Sandra Eady, CSIRO 067 761 394 (w) 067 784 836 (ah)