The importance of close hocks in Merino breeding

Abstract

Ewes born between 1956 and 1959 in a number of Merino selection flocks maintained at Trangie Agricultural Research Station were scored for distance between the hocks : 1 wide to 6 close. The heritability of hock score was high (0.49 ± 0.10). The phenotypic correlations between hock score and fleece and body measurements were all small although the following were significant and positive : with greasy fleece weight, 0.11 ; with clean fleece weight, 0.06 ; with fold score, 0.09. Hock score had no influence on the total number of lambs weaned per ewe-lifetime. Ewes with close hocks (scores 5 and 6) did not lag in the rear third of a travelling flock relative to ewes with score 4 or score 1 hocks.