Assessing Wiltshire Horn-Merino [sheep] crosses, 1. Wool shedding, blowfly strike and wool production traits
1994
Rathie, K.A. | Tierney, M.L. (Queensland Dept. of Primary Industries, Yeerongpilly (Australia). Animal Research Inst.) | Mulder, J.C. (Queensland Dept. of Primary Industries, Brisbane (Australia). Water Resources Commission)
Wiltshire Horn-Merino (WH-M) crosses of 1-2, 5-8, 3-4 Merino content were compared over 10 years for wool shedding, blowfly strike frequency and wool production traits. Merinos and 1-2 Merino WH-M were compared over 4 years. For wool production traits, 1-2 and 5-8 Merino WH-M ewes were compared to Border Leicester-Merino (BL-M) ewes over 2 years. Shedding increased with age for all WH-M genotypes, with 3-4 Merinos showing less shedding than 1-2 Merinos at all ages. Shedding increased most with age in the 1-2 Merinos, and least in the 3-4 Merinos. Little or no shoulder and back wool was shed by most sheep. All 1-2 and 5-8 Merinos and most 3-4 Merinos had bare legs and points. Blowfly strike incidence was far higher in Merinos than 1-2 Merinos, in all years. Among WH-M, blowfly strike incidence increased as Merino content increased, in all years. All WH-M were far inferior to both Merinos and BL-M in total greasy wool weight and all its components, and also in clean fleece weight, with their level of inferiority increasing as their Merino content declined. All WH-M genotypes have wool too coarse, and not enough of it, to compete as a wool sheep with the Merino at current wool prices under usual Australian pastoral conditions. In areas where mustering is difficult or blowfly strike unusually severe, WH-M genotypes may find a niche.
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