Media Release: Neogen Launches ImmuneDEX for Merinos – A New Genomic Tool to Breed Tougher, More Resilient Sheep

Neogen has announced the commercial release of ImmuneDEX, a new genomic immune competence index designed to help Merino producers breed tougher, more resilient animals. This marks a major milestone in the Enhancing Animal Resilience in Australian Merino Breeding Programs project.

ImmuneDEX is delivered through a collaborative project with CSIRO, Sheep Genetics and the Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit (AGBU), co-funded through the Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) Donor Company (MDC), translating immune competence research into a practical on-farm selection tool.

“Genomics gives you the most information from one investment,” said Amy Bell, CSIRO.

ImmuneDEX allows producers to identify animals that cope better with disease and stress, supporting improved welfare, lower treatment costs and more consistent performance under challenging seasonal and production conditions.

“Tough times require tough animals,” said Mel Dowling, Sheep Technical Product Specialist at Neogen. “The release of ImmuneDEX is a significant milestone for this project and gives producers a practical way to focus their investment on animals that will deliver long-term productivity, while avoiding ongoing costs associated with the poorest performers.”

Disease remains one of the biggest costs to the Australian sheep industry, with research estimating the top five sheep diseases cost approximately $1.5 billion annually. Internal parasites, weaner ill-thrift, mortality and flystrike are major contributors, particularly for Merino enterprises where survival and growth directly affect profitability.

Unlike tools that target a single condition, ImmuneDEX reflects overall immune competence. This describes how well sheep cope with disease and stress in real-world production environments. More immune-competent animals are more likely to maintain performance

under challenge, recover more quickly when exposed to disease or stress, and require fewer interventions across their lifetime.

Immune competence is a heritable and selectable trait.

By using ImmuneDEX to guide selection decisions, producers can remove the poorest-performing animals, lift overall flock productivity and build permanent, cumulative resilience into their breeding programs.

“It’s not about chasing the highest score,” Ms Dowling said. “The real value comes from identifying and removing the bottom end of the flock, which lifts the whole enterprise.”

ImmuneDEX complements existing selection tools and provides clear benefits for both stud and commercial producers, including improved lamb survival, reduced disease pressure, lower labour and treatment costs, and stronger alignment with welfare and market expectations.

ImmuneDEX will be available to Australian Merino sheep producers from 1 May 2026 through Neogen.

For more information, contact:
Mel Dowling, Sheep Technical Product Specialist, Neogen
MDowling@neogen.com