Face cover and fertility in Merino, Corriedale, and Polwarth sheep in western Victoria

Abstract

Face cover was scored at mating on 7,200 sheep on one Polwarth, four Merino, and three Corriedale flocks in the Western District of Victoria. The average face cover scores were : Merinos 5.50, Corriedales 5.28, and Polwarth 4.65. Merino and Polwarth ewes showed no association between face cover score and the average number of lambs born, except that in 1961 muffled faced Merino ewes had fewer lambs per ewe mated than open faced ewes. Corriedale ewes with muffled faces had significantly fewer lambs per ewe mated than open faced ewes (P<0.05).