Abstract

The performance of hoggets of part-superfine-Merino ancestry born in 1994 and 1995 were compared with straightbred Romneys (R) in a highly selected nucleus flock on a hill country property, near Wanganui. All animals were born to R ewes. In addition to R, ½ Merinos (½ M) were born in 1993 and ¼ Merino (¼M) in 1994 and 1995. The ¼M and R sheep born in 1994 did not differ significantly in hogget greasy fleece weight, live weights, growth rates, or faecal egg and nematode counts. Midside fleece samples collected at two-tooth ewe shearing in late February 1996 showed that the ¼M sheep were finer, more yellow, more-bulky and had shorter wool than the R sheep. For ¼M and R sheep born in 1995, the ¼M genotype had a lower hogget greasy fleece weight, weaning weight and 12 month live weight. The ¼M hogget wool was finer, brighter, less yellow, bulkier and shorter than the R midside wool. Clean scoured yield was not significantly different.

JM, Everett-Hincks, GA Wickham, and HT Blair

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Volume 58, , 266-269, 1998