Wool production of yearling ewes of different breeds on hill country

Abstract

Wool production data were obtained from 1303 ewe hoggets (13 months of age) of Romney, Coopworth, Perendale, and Cheviot breeds from 1970 to 1974. All hoggets had previously been shorn as lambs at 3 months of age. Mean greasy fleece weights were: Romney 2.65 kg, Coopworth 2.71, Perendale 2.46 kg, and Cheviot 1.83 kg. Mean fibre diameters were: Romney 30.8 µm, Perendale 31.0 µm, Cheviot 31.1/tm, and Coopworth 32.2 µm. Coopworth had the greatest weight of clean wool per unit skin area followed in decreasing order by Romney, Perendale, and Cheviot; Romney produced the greatest weight of wool per unit body weight followed in decreasing order by Coopworth, Perendale, and Cheviot. Body weights were: Romney 28.2 kg, Coopworth 32.8 kg, Perendale 32.6 kg, and Cheviot 32.1 kg. Hoggets reared as singles were 1.7 kg heavier in body weight and produced 0.09 kg more greasy wool than those reared as twins. Most parameters of wool production increased with age of the hogget at shearing. Returns per sheep from the sale of wool for Romney, Coopworth, and Perendale were similar and were considerably higher than for Cheviot. An average price premium for Perendale wool of 11% above that of Romney wool was received.