Booroola sheep

Press, 28 March 1980, Page 9

Booroola sheep

Booroolas — to qualify as. New Zealand Boorodlas. The Booroola Sheep Society has received a letter from Dr E. Robertson of Gidgegannup, near Perth, confirming that he cannot supply individual pedigrees for rams imported into this country. Mr A. D. Weaverds of “Corrilee,” Oxford, says that this lack of an assured genetic background has disrupted three large scale M.A.F. breeding trials. However the M.A.F. are now asking for the use of individual rams owned by farmers that have shown to be carrying extremely high fertility genes. It was expected that M.A.F. would this year have been able to drop 15/16 Booroolas on the ground. However they are now severely set back and by using rams outside, that are on New Zealand Sheep Plan records, and showing good performances, we can only hope that they will be able to continue on their very good work, says Mr Weavers. At its annual meeting in June, last year, the Booroola Society decided to meet the situation by making it a requirement that all rams be progeny tested before being accepted for registration. This, along with other stringent requirements would quali-

fy the rams for registration as the NEW ZEALAND BOOROOLA. It is this policy that has put the Booroola breed at the forefront of the New Zealand sheep industry. There are now numerous farmers using Booroolas who have found what high fertility in a flock is going to do for the future lift in production. On the wool side. Booroola’s crossed over recognised long wool breeds, have topped the February Bradford wool sale for | bred wool which is all’ important for those who find that a large slice of income is evolved from this. The meat side of the industry compares favourably with other breeds once Booroolas have been crossed over recognised long wool breeds to leave a j bred animal. It is this | animal when crossed over conventional flocks that is able to produce a good carcase which is low in fat coverage and still capable of producing good wool and length.

Individual farms have lifted production by an amazing 100 per cent in the | situation and as much as 50 per cent with i Booroola influence introduced into the traditional Romney, Corriedale, and other commercial type flocks.