Reproductive Physiology of Merino Sheep – Concepts and Consequences

This publication describes the accumulated results from 20 years of basic and applied research funded by the Australian Meat Research Committee and the Australian Meat and Livestock Research and Development Corporation (Project UWA5S). Throughout, the general thesis has always been that:
"the best atmosphere for the creation and acquisition of knowledge has students, teachers and researchers all submerged in a continuing integrated program of basic and applied research" - David Lindsay 1970. When funds for the project were withdrawn in June 1989, not because the project was unsuccessful but because it no longer fitted neatly under the new bureaucratic framework, we decided to organise an International Symposium, drawing uniquely on the resources created by UWA5S, to celebrate the end of an era, during which David Lindsay and his group made a major contribution to our knowledge of reproductive physiology and behaviour of Merino sheep. The ultimate goal was to publish a final report that would be used by scientists for many years to come. All of the invited authors are former students or close colleagues of David Lindsay. In accepting our invitation authors undertook to take a prospective, rather than retrospective attitude to their topics in the manner of informed speculation. We feel that this book has achieved that objective and we congratulate all the authors on their efforts in writing such inspirational text at such short notice. We also wish to thank in advance all the participants and chairpersons for what we are sure will be enthusiastic and valuable contributions at the symposium.