Effects of season and pasture allowance on the wool growth of Romney ewes

H. Hawker, S.F. Crosbie and K.F. Thompson

Invermay Agricultural Research Centre, Mosgiel and Woodlands Research Station, Invercargill

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1982, 42: 183-186

Wool growth responses of Romney ewes to increasing pasture allowance in the autumn (pre-joining), early winter (mid pregnancy) and spring (lactation) were examined. Live weight gain and wool growth increased curvilinearly with allowance. Wool growth responses were greater in autumn than winter, with spring intermediate. The maximum difference in clean fleece weight between extremes of pasture allowance was 0.41 to 0.12 kg for autumn, 0.12 kg for winter and 0.15 kg for spring. Changes in live-weight gain were associated with greater changes in wool growth in autumn than in winter or spring.

Keywords: NZSAPAB;

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Last Updated 03-05-1997