Factors influencing the time required to shear Merino sheep and its importance as a breeding objective

Abstract

Two sets of observations have been made on the time required to shear (TRS) Merino sheep. The first, in 1951, involved 98 rams and 75 ewes from one medium Peppin bloodline. Then, in 1975, TRS was recorded on 79 rams and 143 ewes from five different bloodlines, from a number of Merino strains. The effect of different production characters on TRS was estimated by least squares analysis, in models that included the effects of shearer, sex, bloodline (1975 only) and all first order interactions. In the 1951 data, TRS increased with increasing greasy fleece weight and with increasing skin fold in the rams (P <0.05). No production character had a significant effect on TRS in the ewes. In the 1975 data, TRS increased with increasing greasy fleece weight, skin fold, face cover and body weight in at least one sex, and when data from the two sexes were pooled (P <0.05). Skin fold and greasy fleece weight had the largest and most consistent effect. There were also significant differences between the bloodlines in TRS, which were found to be associated with differences between the bloodlines in skin fold, greasy fleece weight, and to a lesser extent, face cover. After studying the likely economic benefit of reducing TRS by selection, we concluded that under current economic situations, where any reduction in TRS would lower only the ancillary costs associated with shearing (shed hands, classing, etc.). TRS is not an important breeding objective for the Australian Merino wool industry.