In this study, the wool growth of Dohne Merino, Dormer, Merino and South African Mutton Merino (SAMM) lambs reared on a feedlot diet (10.62 MJ ME/ kg feed, 20.7% crude protein) was monitored from about two months old until the…
Increasing production of animal fibres has increased the need for a portable instrument that measures fibre diameter and associated characteristics with precision and accuracy. This research evaluated a new portable fibre tester (PFT) by measuring the diameter and related characteristics…
This study details the production performance of ewes and lambs that originated from a terminal crossbreeding experiment that involved five Merino type dam lines and two terminal crossbreeding sire lines from 1999 to 2002. Ewe lines were SA Mutton Merino…
The production performance of ewes was assessed in a terminal crossbreeding experiment involving five Merino and Merino-type dam lines and two terminal crossbreeding sire breeds. Dam lines were SA Mutton Merino (SAMM), SAMM rams crossed to Merino ewes (SAMM cross),…
Yearling live weight and fleece trait data were obtained from between 2214 and 2270 yearling SA Mutton Merino progeny of the Elsenburg flock during a 20-year period from 1983 to 2002. Information of (co)variances for these traits in SA Mutton…
Recent investigations into objectively measured attributes of commercial cashmere have differentiated cashmere produced in different regions of the world on the basis of cashmere fibre attributes. By plotting any two of mean fibre diameter, fibre curvature and resistance to compression,…
The portable fibre-testing instrument OFDA2000 has applications in the mohair industry for both fibre classing and animal selection. A comparison was completed between single-staple mid-side testing using an OFDA2000 and conventional laboratory mid-side testing using an OFDA100. Mid-side mohair samples…
Genetic improvement is a key to future increases in productivity in the Australian Mohair industry. Accurate identification of superior sires is part of this process. A progeny test was established to evaluate some prominent sires in use within the Australian…
This study was undertaken to investigate the genetic stability of an unselected Control Group of South African Merino sheep and genetic change in a flock selected for increased clean fleece mass (Selection Group) under the same environmental conditions. Data regarding…
The objective of this study was to establish a fine woolled Merino flock at the Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institute in order to evaluate the production and reproduction performance of fine woolled animals against a control line on natural pastures in…
The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of short-term nutritional stress after weaning on the wool production characteristics of fine vs. strong wool producing Merino sheep over the short and medium term. Forty fine wool and 40…
