Sue HATCHER

Research interests

• Sheep breeding and genetics
• Precision sheep production systems
• Reproductive efficiency including breeding ewe management, lamb and weaner survival 
• Wool production, quality and processing

Background

Sue Hatcher commenced employment at Orange Agricultural Institute with NSW Department of Primary industries in 1997. She has nearly 18 years scientific research experience and a proven track record of effective extension of research results to industry. Her research program has included wool metrology and fibre identification, applied research of the genetic, economic and industry constraints impeding fine wool production across Australia, and linking Merino breeding to wool processing. A feature of her research is effective within and across organisational collaborative teams.

More recently she has undertaken research into aspects of breeding ewe management including both lamb and weaner survival and the consequences of selecting sheep for high wool production. 

Qualifications

• B.Agric.Sc.  – University of Western Australia 1990 
• PhD – University of Western Australia 1995

Current projects

• Reproductive efficiency of the Australian Merino ewe 
• Phenotypic and genetic aspects of lamb survival
• Improving weaner survival
• Nutrient partitioning between wool, meat and reproduction 
• Linking Merino breeding to wool processing.

Recent Publications

Hatcher S, Atkins KD, Thornberry KJ (2008) Strategic use of sheep coats can improve your economic return. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48, 762-767

Hatcher S, Eppleston J, Graham RP, McDonald J, Schlunke S, Watt B, Thornberry K (2008) Higher weaning weight improves postweaning growth and survival in young Merino sheep. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48, 966-973

Refshauge PG, Hatcher S, Hinch G, Hopkins DL, Nielsen S (2008) The impact of clean fleece weight and bodyweight selection in Merinos on meat traits in the progeny. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48, 1076-1084

Hatcher S, Atkins KD (2007) The impact of phenotypic selection for clean fleece weight on reproduction. In 'Genetic Improvement - Making it Happen. Proceedings of the 17th Conference'. Armidale, New South Wales, Australia. (Ed. K Donoghue) pp. 260-263. (Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics).

Safari A, Fogarty NM, Mortimer SI, Greeff JC, Hatcher S, Lee GJ, Gilmour AR (2007) Feed intake and its genetic relationship with growth traits in Merino sheep. In 'Genetic Improvement - Making it happen. Proceedings of the 17th Conference'. Armidale, NSW Australia. (Ed. K Donoghue) pp. 199-202. (Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics).

Adams NR, Hatcher S, Schlink AC (2006) Extreme wool production - implications for fitness. International Journal of Sheep and Wool Science 54, 28-32.

Jordan DJ, Hatcher S, Lee GJ, McConnel I, Bowen MK, Della Bosca AJ, Rowe JB (2006) Nutritional management of reproductive efficiency. International Journal of Sheep and Wool Science 54, 35-41.

Hatcher S, Atkins KD, Thornberry KJ (2005) Age changes in wool traits of Merino sheep in western NSW. In 'Application of New Genetic Technologies to Animal Breeding. Proceedings of the 16th Conference of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics'. Noosa Lakes, Queensland. (Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics).

Hopkins DL, Hatcher S, Pethick DW, Thornberry KJ (2005) Carcass traits, meat quality and muscle enzyme activity in strains of Merino wether hoggets. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 45, 1225-1230.

Hatcher S (2003) Linking Merino breeding to wool processing using the TEAM formulae. Wool Technology and Sheep Breeding. 51(1) 33-48.

Hatcher S, Atkins KD and Thornberry KJ (2003) Sheep coats can economically improve the style of western fine wools. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture. 43(1): 53-59.

Hatcher S, Atkins KD and Thornberry KJ (2003) Wool buyers do not adversely discount fine wool grown in ‘non-traditional’ environments. Wool Technology and Sheep Breeding. 51(2): 163-175.

Hatcher S, Lightfoot RJ and Purvis IW (2000) Mating Awassi rams to Merino ewes causes an initial level of fibre contamination which decreases to an insignificant level 8 weeks post-mating. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture. 40(3): 363-369

Hatcher S, Lightfoot RJ and Purvis IW (2000) Transfer of contaminant lamb fibres to their dam’s fleece, and loss within four weeks of weaning. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture. 40(3): 371-378.

Hatcher S, Lightfoot RJ and Purvis IW (2000) Previous Awassi grazing on a paddock or grazing in the same or adjoining paddock, does not cause fibre contamination of Merino sheep. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture. 40(3): 379-385.

Hatcher S, Foulds RA, Lightfoot RJ and Purvis IW (1999) The relative wool contamination potential of Awassi and black Merino sheep when penned together with white Merinos. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture. 39(5): 519-528.

Professional associations and activities

• Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics
• Australian Society of Animal Production

Fields of Research

• 070201 Animal Breeding
• 070203 Animal Management
• 070206 Animal Reproduction

Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)

Keyword/phrase list of research interests

• Merino genetic improvement
• precision sheep management
• reproductive efficiency 

Contact details