SHEEP Country Episode 3 – Shedding sheep, shared progress

A shared drive to improve genetics is at the heart of the Shedding Sheep Improvement Group, where breeders nationwide are working together to lift performance and reduce workload in shedding sheep.

In this episode, Daniel Wheeler, Group Manager of the Shedding Sheep Improvement Group, joins Jo Scott to discuss how a collective of breeders is driving genetic progress for shedding sheep across New Zealand. He explains how the group’s collaboration, sharing data, genetics and ideas, is helping to lift performance and reliability in this fast growing sector.

Guest:

• Daniel Wheeler, Group Manager, Shedding Sheep Improvement Group

Host:

• Jo Scott, Genetic Specialist, Targeted Breeding

Daniel Wheeler leads the Shedding Sheep Improvement Group, a nationwide collective of breeders working to advance genetics and performance in shedding sheep. Formed in 2022, the group focuses on collaboration, data sharing and linkage to strengthen breeding programmes and accelerate genetic gain across different shedding breeds.

Daniel explains how the shift towards shedding sheep is helping farmers cut workload and improve efficiency, while maintaining strong production and adaptability. He highlights the value of recorded genetics, careful ram selection and cooperation between breeders to deliver reliable, low-input sheep that perform in New Zealand conditions.

Learn more in the latest issue of SHEEP Country here.