This study assessed ultrasound scanning as a proxy for observed reproduction records, quantified the effects of lambing year and ewe age, and estimated repeatability of traits to predict current-flock gains. Data for number of lambs recorded per ewe scanned, lambs…
Observations of 5 production traits on 4 000 individuals in the Dohne Merino Development Programme were used to estimate correction factors for the influence of age of dam, type of birth (single or twin) and sex of lamb on 5…
To determine the influence of age of ewe on reproductive performance and the age specific death rate in the Dohne Merino, data from 1 310 individual lambings accumulated between 1975 and 1980, were used. The reproductive performance of the Dohne…
To determine the influence of the age of the ewe on characteristics such as body mass, greasy fleece mass, clean fleece mass, fibre diameter and staple length, the data obtained from 500 ewes born between 1970 and 1979 were used…
Correlations between eight wool characteristics as well as bodymass were calculated for the Dohne Merino. Data originated from 320 ewes present in the development project on this breed at the Agricultural Research Station, Dohne.
Age had a significant (P ≤0,05) influence on greasy fleece mass and clean fleece mass. The staple length, fibre density and bodymas≤s were influenced highly significantly (P ≤5 0,01). Generation number had a significant (P ≤…
Testicular development from 3 to 14 months of age was examined in Dorper (DD), Dohne Merino (DM) and crossbred (Meatmaster; MM) rams. Testicular measurements included testis volume (TV), diameter (TD), length (TL) and scrotal circumference (SC). Both TD and SC…
Data of lambing records from 1984 to 1989, which comprised 914 ewe lambing years and 1522 lambing opportunities, were used to investigate overall productive performance of Dohne Merino ewes under an accelerated lambing system. Ewes were exposed to three fixed…
This study details the slaughter traits of lambs born from a terminal crossbreeding experiment that involved five Merino type dam lines crossed with Dormer and Suffolk sires. Dam lines included dual purpose types; South African Mutton Merino (SAMM), Dohne Merino,…
Data from 1390 to 1902 Dohne Merino progeny of a nucleus flock were used toevaluate environmental influences, and to obtain heritability estimates for live weight at birth, weaning and yearling age and for yearling fleece traits. Estimated breeding values for…
