Merino wool types compared in trial
A trial to compare the performance of fine, medium and strong wool Merino wethers from different farms will be run over the next four years.
About 30 teams of 10 Merino wether hoggets from flock breeders will take part in the trial organised by Central Otago stud Merino breeders, and based on successful Australian versions.
The sheep will be run together on Matakanui station, about 30km north of Alexandra.
The sheep will be shorn each September from 1985 and each fleece weighed and valued with the aid of
yield and fibre diameter measurements.
Wool samples will be taken from each wether six weeks before shearing so measurements will be available on shearing days. After each sheep is shorn a computer will tabulate the results and placings. Wool prices will be calculated according to the average auction values of the various wool types during the last 12 months, as advised by the Wool Board. The total value of the wool produced by each farmer’s team (which might be reduced to seven sheep) will be used to decide the team’s place every year. The trial is open to Mer-
ino breeders who obtain rams from Central Otago stud Merino breeders.
The flock was assembled at Matakanui station on May 18 and all sheep will be shorn in September this year before the first competition shearing in the following September. The organisers hope to open the shearing days to the public.
Other aims of the competition are to demonstrate the high level of production possible from Merino wethers and to promote the understanding and use of objective measurement of wool. The trial is sponsored by M.S.D. Agvet.
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Press, 22 June 1984, Page 23
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280Merino wool types compared in trial Press, 22 June 1984, Page 23
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