Gene Editing in Livestock: What, Why, and What’s Next? with Dr. Gus McFarlane

Join us for another thought-provoking episode of "Genetics in the Paddock with Emily", as we unpack the science, promise, and challenges of gene editing in livestock—with a special focus on CRISPR technology. In this episode, Emily is joined by Gus McFarlane, a Research Scientist from NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, passionate about welfare-driven and climate-adaptive breeding with the help of gene editing technologies. Together, they explore how CRISPR is changing the conversation in cattle and sheep production—from improving thermotolerance and disease resistance to reducing mulesing and adapting European breeds to Australian conditions.We break down how gene editing works (in practical, paddock-relevant terms), how it differs from GMOs, and why it's attracting renewed global attention. Gus shares current and future examples—from slick-coated cattle to gene-edited salmon—and explains why Australia may see commercial gene-edited livestock within the next five years. We also tackle the big questions:🔬 What are the risks of misuse or misunderstanding?💡 Will gene editing replace EBVs and selection indexes—or complement them?⚖️ What regulations and safeguards are in place to ensure welfare and consumer confidence?Whether you're a producer, advisor, or just curious about where livestock genetics is heading, this episode is a must-listen for understanding the realities and possibilities of gene editing in our extensive (and intensive!) systems. To provide feedback, comments, suggestions for future topics, or guest speakers you'd like to hear from, please email: [email protected] information is for informative and educational purposes only and does not constitute advice.This episode is produced by the Extensive Livestock Team within the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.