Abstract

Highly prolific flocks of Romney, Coopworth and Perendale sheep have been established from the progeny of ewes screened from industry. Ovulation rates of 1.5-year-old Romney, Coopworth and Perendale ewes were 1.82, 2.08 and 1.87 respectively. Corresponding ovulation rates for older ewes were 2.13, 2.27 and 2.07. Mean litter size of 1.5-year-old Romney, Coopworth and Perendale ewes was 1.63, 1.87 and 1.61 respectively and for older ewes the respective litter size was 1.88, 1.94 and 1.78. The proportion of ewes twinning ranged from 0.57 to 0.69. Within the flocks there are some family lines which are showing outstanding prolificacy and are the subject of a progeny testing programme.

MJ, Young, and AR Sykes

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Volume 47, , 73-75, 1987