Challenges with investing in genetic improvement for the Australian extensive livestock industries

Abstract

Investment in animal genetic improvement in Australia involves a diverse range of stakeholders and tackles complexity in a range of markets and production environments. While an excellent range of tools and knowledge for genetic improvement has been developed, industry-wide rates of genetic progress lag well below what is possible. This constitutes a considerable opportunity cost to the investors and to the wider community. It is proposed that this is partly a problem of coordination of effort across many diverse interests, and that this problem will be exacerbated by increasing availability, but complexity of use of genotypic information. Some approaches aimed at improving coordination and hence efficiency of investment are suggested, with consideration of the role of research and development corporations.