FUTURE MERINO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27080, 14 May 1949, Page 2

FUTURE MERINO

“LIKE THE CORRIEDALE” What will the Australian merino of the future be like? Many studmasters in Australia believe that during the next 20 years there will be many changes in form and forecast that the future merino ram will be a plainfronted hornless animal, resembling the Corriedale. The present-day type of Australian merino ram is large, roomy, with well-developed body, strong head and horns, wide open face, and high standard fleece.

Arguments advanced in favour of plain-bodied sheep are that the weight of wool grown on the folds is of no great economic importance since it tends to be stronger than the wool on the rest of the" sheep and defeats the objective of uniformity. The blowfly problem, too, with the adoption of the Mules operation as a preventive against fly strike, has brought home the advantage of' plain bodies. Although an occasional studmaster argues for development in top stud sheep, most successful breeders claim that outstanding sheep can be bred as effectively from plain-bodied sheep as from the wrinkly kind.

Although polled rams are not favoured in all Australian States, poleys from some ' studs have found ready sale in New South Wales, and the average price for these rams is steadily improving. Sheepmen find it difficult to give any good reason for the retention of horns, and many frankly admit that the merino would be a better proposition if the rams had no horns, particularly in seasons when blow-flies reach plague proportions.