Fleece production responses to Merino fine wool index selection
T. Wuliji, K.G. Dodds, J.T.J. Land
MAF Technology, Invermay Agricultural Centre, Mosgiel
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production.
1991, 51: 353-358
A fine wool index selection flock (I) was established by
screening the Tara Hills Merino flocks in 1988 and 1989. The flock of
200 breeding ewes was formed with equal numbers of four age groups born
in 1984 to 1987. A randomly sampled 160 ewes from the same population
served as the Control (C). The greasy fleece weights of the I flock
were 8.3% (P<0.001), 6.8% (P<0.001) higher than that of C flock in 1988
and 1989 respectively. Spring live weight (P<0.05) and yield (P<0.001)
were significantly higher while fibre diameter (P<0.001) was
significantly lower for I. Progeny hogget fleece weight, live weight
and fibre diameter, however, differed insignificantly between flocks.
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
Merino; wool; selection; characteristics; index
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Last Updated 25-01-1997
