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Effect of different shearing policies on sheep production in Northland
Sumner RMW, Armstrong D
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Volume 47, pp 107-110, Jan 1987
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Volume 47, pp 107-110, Jan 1987
Article class: Conference Presentation
Subject Terms: Animal production/wastage, Breed/breeding, Environment, Genetics, Harvesting/processing, Integument/skin/wool/hair/fur/feather, Reproduction, Reproduction - female, Seasonality/photoperiod
Animal Type: Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant, Sheep
Publisher: New Zealand Society of Animal ProductionAbstract
Production data was collected from 400 mixed-age breeding ewes on each of 4 farms in the Kaiwaka area for 3 years between 1982 and 1986. Half of the ewes on each farm were shorn once yearly and half twice yearly. Each farm had a different time schedule. The once-yearly shorn group were shorn in either February, June, October or November and the twice-yearly shorn group in October and February, December and June, February and October or May and November respectively. Ewes second shorn in February were heavier at main shearing in October than twice-shorn ewes. Ewe live weight on the other 3 farms was unaffected by shearing treatment. Total clean wool production of twice shorn ewes was greater than once-shorn ewes on all farms with the effect being greater following second shearing in May and October. Mean staple length of the lines of fleece wool reflected the actual interval between shearings and the seasonal wool growth cycle. Mean fibre diameter was a direct reflection of the seasonal wool growth cycle. Once-shorn wools were more discoloured than twice-shorn wools. Wools shorn between May and October were less discoloured than wools shorn between November and February. Frequency of shearing did not affect ewe survival, reproduction rate or lamb weaning weight. Average net wool returns were greater for once-shorn ewes on all farms.The whole of the literary matter of the Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production is copyright New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Downloading this article signifies agreement with the terms and conditions of electronic access.