Our Vision
To facilitate the genetic improvement of New Zealand's sheep industry by distributing quality genetic material from proven superior sires.

To promoting the benefits of the use of elite genes and encouraging their use through the provision of quality animal breeding services which meet the needs of New Zealand sheep breeders.

Julia Aspinall - Genetic Gains Ltd.  Browser link

Owner Profile
Julia AspinallJulia Aspinall, principal of Genetic Gains Ltd. has specialized in animal breeding since 1985 and has been heavily involved in some of New Zealand's most intensive genetic reproduction operations.

These include a large angora goat programme, LambXL's "New Breed" Quarantine, Silver stream's East Friesians, Tara Hills' Superfine Merinos and numerous on-farm programmes. Julia has a B.H.Sc., M.Sc. and NZIM Dip. Mgt. Genetic Gains was established in 1995 and is based in Invercargill, New Zealand. In 1999 Genetic Gains became a registered company, Genetic Gains Ltd.

Ram Semen Marketing Service

For the New Zealand market
Genetic Gains Ltd. produces a ram semen catalogue featuring genetically superior sires. Romney, Coopworth, Texel and Suffolk are the main breeds represented, but other breeds are also included.

  • All rams featured in the catalogue have been proven to be genetically superior either by sire referencing, progeny testing or some other comparative trial. This ensures that the genes offered are from among the most productive rams in New Zealand.
  • The catalogue is distributed to farmers in New Zealand who have shown an interest in AI.
    To order a catalogue, please send your postal address by     email.
  • Having the ram featured in the catalogue is a free service for breeders, who benefit from the advertising, the recognition of having bred or purchased an elite sire and revenue from semen sales.

For the International Market
NZ has a wide range of sheep genetics of a very high quality. Overseas breeders are invited to specify their requirements for ram semen. Genetic Gains Ltd. will then find the donor animals which meet these requirements and process the semen according to the appropriate export health protocol.
Quotations on request, email.

Photos of current sires, click a thumbnail for a larger image
 

Wiltshire, Whata L635/03 is an excellent shedder. On arrival at the AB Centre he had only a small tuft of wool on each back leg remaining.

Border Leicester, Studleigh 68/98 was the Champion Ram Hogget at the 1999 Royal Show in Invercargill, New Zealand. Straws are available for Australia and North America.

Corriedale, Rosebank 42/00 is a moorit ram with an excellent quality fleece for handcraft. Straws are available for export to North America. Suffolk, Nithdale 48/05 has been bred in a relatively challenging environment. He has performed very well for terminal sire traits, particularly growth.
Perendale, Bonnieview 55/01 provides  a ram well in production and disease resistant. From a flock of 1500 fully recorded ewes, farmed under tough organic standards.

Romney, Nithdale 457/00 has been the top performing sire for the Southern Romney Development Group for 2004 and 2005. He ranks 12th of 777 sires in the ACE (across breed evaluation) for six major production traits including worm resistance.

Suffolk, Punchbowl 113/04 is a high ranking ram from a stud renown for breeding Suffolks of excellent quality.

Coopworth, Tamlet 287/03 ranks 10th of 777 sires in the May 2005 ACE (across breed evaluation) on six major production traits including worm resistance.

Dorper, Kaya 242/00 was imported from Australia in January 2001. He has a very well muscled back end, and has bred extremely well.

Coopworth, Tamlet 833/02 ranks 10th of 1304 Coopworth sires December 2005 national analysis over five major production traits, reproduction, survival, growth, meat and wool.

Texel The Burn XA2/99 is a consistent breeder that leaves structurally sound lambs. Has very even fleece, finer micron, black feet. Straws are available for use in NZ and Australia.

Greeline, The Gree 1560/03 is a high performing sire for Greeline Composites. This breed is 1/4 East Friesian, 3/8 Texel and 3/8 Coopworth.

Romney Tan Bar 1233/02, highly productive progeny, excellent breeding values, worm resistance. Genotype of ARR/ARR, highest genetic level of scrapie resistance.

TEFRom Twin Farm 535/02 is performing among the top 100% of dual purpose sires in New Zealand's Advanced Central Evaluation (December 2007) for the high performance index, as well as in the top 1% for growth.

Suffolk Twin Farm 61/04, a 7/8 Suffolk 1/8 Texel ram, breeds meaty lambs. Ranks 4th Premier Suffolks sire reference group.

Texel Blackdale 122/05 ranks within the top 3% of terminal sires in New Zealand's Advanced Central Evaluation (December 2007) for overall index. He also ranks within the top 2% of New Zealand Texel sires (November 2007) for dual purpose index.
       

Woodlands Artificial Breeding (AB) Centre - Genetic Gains Limited leases the Woodlands AB Centre premises, 22 km from Invercargill. The Centre is licensed by Biosecurity New Zealand (registration number NZSOC03)  for export. Rams are health tested before being admitted to the Centre and are frequently monitored for live weight and general health. Breeders can be sure their valuable sires are receiving very good care. Our animal and laboratory technicians are extremely thorough, and ensure a very high standard of quality control is maintained.

Services provided by the AB Centre include

 

  • ram semen collection and processing for domestic use and export.
  • semen storage.
  • semen dispatch.

Genetic Gains Ltd. will continue to provide these services and
will strive towards continually improving the quality and
range of services offered.

Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer Services
Genetic Gains Ltd. and Premier Genetics NZ Ltd. work together, offering on-farm breeding / genetic reproduction services for sheep. Intrauterine (laparoscopic) Artificial Insemination (AI). The average conception rate is 75% (with frozen-thawed semen).

Multiple Ovulation and Embryo Transfer (MOET).
The average embryo hold rate is 75%. A very specialised laparoscopic embryo recovery technique is offered. This highly skilled technique subjects the valuable donor ewe to a minimum of trauma, and allows repeated embryo collections with a much reduced risk of permanent damage compared to the traditional surgical technique. email.

Genetic Gains Ltd- 'Do-it-yourself Cervical AI and Ram Semen Collection Courses
These courses are designed for sheep farmers who have a small number of genetically superior sires on their property which they would like to use over large numbers of ewes.

Do-it-yourself Cervical AI Courses are held on request for a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 6 people per course. A comprehensive manual is included, and at the end of the one day course participants are fully competent to carry out cervical AI on their own sheep.

Ram Semen Collection Courses are held on request for a maximum of 4 people per course. This is also a one day course including a comprehensive manual. It covers ram semen collection and handling, processing for immediate use and field assessment.

SIL Bureau (performance recording)
Genetic Gains Limited operates an animal recording bureau for Sheep Improvement Limited (SIL recording), our national sheep database.

The team
Julia Aspinall  (principal of Genetic Gains Limited), Wendy Ophuis  who has been involved with animal recording since 1992, and Janene Greig are committed to making the animal recording process as user friendly as possible.


We recognise that as a breeder, you spend a lot of time and effort collecting records,
and that accurate data entry and reports are therefore very important.

 Handheld logger used for SIL recording (performance recording) for our national sheep database.

Gene Capture
Our hand held data logger for efficient and accurate sheep recording.

Our services include

  • If you have not been involved with SIL recording before, we explain to you why it is important for ram breeders to belong to the SIL database, discuss which records are of most benefit to you, when to record them and how to make the best use of the reports.
  • We offer you the option of recording manually using paper pre-lists which list the IDs of the relevant animals in your flock, or electronically using Gene Capture, our hand held data logger with a programme especially developed for SIL users.
  • We recognise the fact that as a breeder, you spend a lot of time and effort collecting records, and that accurate data entry and reports are therefore very important. We double check every record we manually enter onto the database, and communicate with you about any mistakes in records e.g. duplicate lamb tags.
  • Gene Capture users receive a 20% discount on our services, improved accuracy of record collection, and save you hours of time. The Gene Capture programme has special features for individual requirements e.g. multiple flocks, prefixes for Texel lamb tags etc.
  • We tailor-make reports to suit your individual requirements, and suggest options which may be of benefit to you.
  • We prepare a newsletter containing topical and technical information three times a year, and are very willing to discuss your breeding programme with you. Julia@genetic-gains.co.nz

Benefits of Genetic Improvement
Use of rams achieving an average rate of genetic improvement (compared to no genetic improvement) results in an increase in cumulative net profit of tens of thousands of dollars for an average sheep farmer over ten years.

Use of elite rams (compared to average rams) can more than double a breeders rate of genetic improvement as well as cumulative net profit (see graph below).

AI and MOET helps breeders to achieve a rapid rate of genetic improvement and thus high value ram sales. AI with frozen-thawed semen allows use of elite sires even after they are injured or dead.

 Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer Services 

Genetic improvement, cumulative profit, 3 sheep generations.
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Email  Julia@Genetic-Gains.co.nz     
 Ph +64 03 2163455 - Fax +64 3 2163405
PO Box 7102 Invercargill New Zealand.

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Related links ...
For information on New Zealand Romneys, visit www.romney.co.nz
For information on artificial breeding services for cattle and deer, visit www.premiergenetics.co.nz.
To search for breeders who are recording with our national database, and Sheep Improvement Limited (SIL) go to www.sheepimprovement.co.nz/search.
For information on Texels, sheep farming in New Zealand, and more about artificial insemination, visit http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~Sfindlay/yrds/agri.html.
The New Zealand Sheep breeders Association www.nzsheep.co.nz   -   New Zealand Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer Services