Fleece weight and wool characteristics of Merino ewes screened
into a superfine selection flock
T. Wuliji, J.T.J. Land, R.N. Andrews, K.G. Dodds
MAF Technology, Invermay Agricultural Centre, Mosgiel
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production.
1990, 50: 301-304
The fleeces of 30,000 ewe hoggets from 12 Merino flocks were
sampled and the mean fibre diameter and clean fleece weight were
measured in 1987 and 1988 and the best were selected to establish a
superfine joint venture (SFJV) flock of 307 breeding ewes. The breeding
objective is to achieve mean fibre diameter below 17um in the adult
fleece while maintaining fleece weight and live weight. Concomitantly,
a random control flock (RC) of 101 ewes was constituted from the flocks
screened. Both flocks are farmed on MAF Technology's high country
station at Tara Hills, Omarama.
The screened SFJV flock has significantly lower live weight (p<0.01),
greasy fleece weight (p0.05), loose wool bulk (p<0.001) and mean fibre
diameter by 2 um (p<0.001). Staple length (P<0.001), staple crimp
(P<0.05) and yield (P<0.05) were significantly higher for the SFJV flock
compared with the RC flock. Wool returns of SFJV flock were $81.78/hd
and $107/hd vs $62.21/hd and $47.00/hd for RC flock in 1988 and 1989
shearing respectively
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
Merino; fibre diameter; specialty; sheep breeding; wool;
characteristics; selection
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Last Updated 25-01-1997
