Inside the Merino Wether Trials: Benchmarking Bloodlines with Dr. Sue Hatcher and Phil Graham

Join us for another thought-provoking episode of Genetics in the Paddock with Emily, as we dive into one of the longest-running and most influential sources of independent Merino genetics information: wether trials.In this episode, Emily is joined by Phil Graham from Graham Advisory and Dr Sue Hatcher from Makin Outcomes to unpack why this decades-old approach is re-emerging as a powerful decision-making tool for today’s sheep producers. Together, they explore the origins of the combined wether-trial analyses stretching back to the 1990s, why producers have consistently driven demand for independent data, and how these trials continue to provide deep genetic insights beyond what you can see from on-farm performance alone.From benchmarking bloodlines and understanding genetic variation in key traits like fibre diameter and clean fleece weight, through to navigating the well-known trade-offs between production traits, Phil and Sue break down what the results really mean for flock improvement. We also step through how a wether trial actually works, from entry to final data collection, and discuss why the analysis is done on a ewe-flock basis, how producers should interpret results given changing breeding objectives, and the influence of environment on data interpretation.Finally, we look ahead to the future of wether trials and where the next 10–15 years of industry-led benchmarking could take us. Whether you’re a producer, advisor, or simply keen to understand how independent genetic comparisons can guide better breeding decisions, this episode is a must-listen.This podcast was produced in collaboration with South East Local Land Services, and further resources, links, and trial information are available on their webpage.https://www.nsw.gov.au/regional-and-primary-industries/livestock/sheep/comparison-of-merino-bloodlinesTo 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.Additional information: https://www.sheepgenetics.org.au/