Effect of different shearing policies on sheep production in Northland

R.M.W. Sumner and D. Armstrong

Whatawhata Hill Country Research Centre, Hamilton and Advisory Services Division, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Warkworth

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1987, 47: 107-110

Production data was collected from 400 mix4ded-age breeding ewes on each of 4 farms in the Kaiwaka area for 3 years between 1982 and 1986. Half of the ewes on each farm were shorn once yearly and half twice yearly. Each farm had a different time schedule. The once-yearly shorn group were shorn in either February, June, October or November and the twice-yearly shorn group in October and February, December and June, February and October or May and November respectively.

Ewes second shorn in February were heavier at main shearing in October than twice-shorn ewes. Ewe live weight on the other 3 farms was unaffected by shearing treatment. Total clean wool production of twice shorn ewes was greater than once-shorn ewes on all farms with the effect being greater following second shearing in May and October. Mean staple length of the lines of fleece wool reflected the actual interval between shearings and the seasonal wool growth cycle. Mean fibre diameter was a direct reflection of the seasonal wool growth cycle. Once-shorn wools were more discoloured than twice-shorn wools. Wools shorn between May and October were less discoloured than wools shorn between November and February. Frequency of shearing did not affect ewe survival, reproduction rate or lamb weaning weight. Average net wool returns were greater for once-shorn ewes on all farms.

Keywords: NZSAPAB; Shearing; Romney; Coopworth; live weight; wool production; reproduction rate

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Last Updated 03-05-1997