ON FARM NATIONAL IN BRIEF ‘Swipe right’ Solutions to match to the syndrome make Anew app is in development Afact sheet to help SbDV is spread by aphids and manage the impacts of symptoms include reddening leaves, to put BREEDPLAN data subterranean clover red leaf stunted plant growth and premature at producers’ fingertips to syndrome has been released, plant death which can lead to help sourcing the right bull for following syndrome outbreaks significant loss of dry matter and their enterprise. seed production. and associated pasture loss in WA. The project is a co-investment Australian Wool Innovation (AWI), Melissa encouraged producers who between NSW Department of Primary suspect clover pasture is infected Industries (DPI) and the MLA Donor MLA, University of Western Australia with SbDV to send symptomatic Company as part of the National and WA Department of Primary leaf samples to the WA Department Livestock Genetics Consortium, Industries and Regional Development of Primary Industries and Regional which aims to achieve world-leading have developed the fact sheet based Development’s diagnostic laboratory rates of genetic gain that will on research prompted by outbreaks service for accurate diagnosis. in 2017. ultimately drive industry profitability. To combat the risk and spread AWI Project Manager – Production of SbDV, producers are NSWDPI Genetics Technical Systems and Wool Credentials, Specalist atias Suarez is managing encouraged to use a variety the project which intends to simplify Melissa McAulay, said the of control measures, including: collaboration between the RDCs and • insecticides (when the risk of early complex science and develop researchers was key to finding the a simple, user-friendly tool for cause of the syndrome and delivering infection is high) producers to select bulls that meet answers and management strategies • introducing annual ryegrass or their needs to increase profitability. to producers. Given current forage oats into pastures, as knowledge and testing of samples, grasses do not host SbDV “The end result will be a tool • selecting alternative legume available on mobile devices that researchers believe that Soybean Dwarf Virus (SbDV) is the most likely species, such as serradella, which will allow producers to compare do not appear to be affected and benchmark online-catalogued cause of the red leaf syndrome, but it’s likely other contributing stress by SbDV. bulls available for sale, based on their genetic merit and how they factors are involved. fit the specific needs of individual The fact sheet is available for “Of the sub-clover plants tested, download from wool.com.au producers,” Matias said. 80% with obvious red leaves were infected with SbDV, compared to Producers can report incidents of “The tool will add value to just 2% without obvious symptoms,” the virus via an online survey at: BREEDPLAN by providing an Melissa said. mla.com.au/clover interface that allows bull buyers to base their selection decisions on existing industry-derived BreedObject selection indexes and Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) while making small modifications to the selection criteria to fit specific enterprise requirements. “Whether producers intend to buy a bull to use on heifers or to produce feeder steers targeting a specific market, the tool will make the process simple and effective, saving the producer time and money.” It is expected the first version of the tool will be available by the end of 2018. dpi.nsw.gov.au 16