Reproductive performance, growth and wool production of exotic sheep and their crosses with the Romney

H.H. Meyer, J.N. Clarke, M.L. Bigham and A.H. Carter

Ruakura Agricultural Research Centre, Hamilton

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Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1977, 37: 220-229

Four breeds of sheep, Finnish Landrace (F), East Friesian (E), Oxford Down (O) and German Whiteheaded Mutton (G), were imported from Britain in 1972 on the basis of their favourable fertility or growth attributes. They are being compared with several local breeds, Border Leicester (B), Cheviot (C), Dorset (D) and the imported Booroola Merino (M) when all are crossed with the Romney. The exotic crosses as a group have performed very well, equalling or surpassing the best of the local crosses for lamb survival, weaning weight and reproductive performance, and producing comparable fleece weights. The straightbred Romney by comparison has consistently demonstrated high lamb mortality, low weaning and hogget body weights and poor reproductive performance, while hogget wool production has been comparable to E, O, G and B crosses. In general, F crosses have shown outstanding lamb survival and reproductive performance, E crosses have demonstrated good survival, high growth rate, and good wool production and reproductive performance, G and O crosses have shown high lamb growth rates and good wool weights. It appears at this early stage that each of the imported breeds has one or more traits in which it can make substantial contribution to the national flock.

Keywords: NZSAPAB;

Last Updated 24-08-2000