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Transitioning from Wool to Sheep Meat: Options & Considerations

Explore options to transition from wool to sheep meat production, including purchasing Dorper rams, upgrading existing Merino ewes, and understanding the genetic impacts on management. Consider factors like shedding, dark medullated fiber, and organic production for optimized results.

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Transitioning from Wool to Sheep Meat: Options & Considerations

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  1. Transition from wool to sheep meat –What options do you have? Sell existing stock - purchase Dorper rams and F2 Dorper ewes Upgrade - purchase Dorper rams and upgrade the existing Merino ewe base F1 Dorper rams - appears to be a less costly option but is not viable

  2. Consider the genetics….impacts on management F1 50/50 F2 75/25 F3 87.5/12.5 F4 93.75/6.25 No shearing from F4

  3. Shearing vs Shedding Source: http://cashdown.com.au • When can you stop shearing? - Doper sire – 8th year - F2/Dorper sire – 6th year • Heritability of shedding - shedding score (1-5) h2 0.54 - selection shedding vs economically important traits Also consider… • Dark Medulated fibre (DMF) - DMFRS - Bale descriptions Y K R

  4. Risks and Benefits • sensitivity - drought, price fluctuations • infrastructure • performance data - anecdotal evidence - ASBV Dorper $ Index • organic production - price premiums - product quality, supply chain, markets

  5. References • Cloete, S. W. P., M. A. Snyman, et al. (2000). Productive performance of Dorper sheep. Small Ruminant Research 36(2): 119-135. • DPI (2011) <http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/farm-business/budgets/livestock> • Pollott, G.E. (2011). A suggested mode of inheritance for wool shedding in sheep. Journal of Animal Science: (89) 8. • Rose, M. and Bright, R.L. and Quigley, S.P. and Kleemann, D.O. (2000) Fibre Transfer in Merino Ewes Mated with Damara, Merino or Dorper Rams in Central Western Queensland. In: Animal Production for a Consuming World. AAAP-ASAP Conference, 2nd - 7th July, Sydney, Australia. • Sheep Genetics (2011) http://www.sheepgenetics.org.au/ • Snyman, M. A. and M. J. Herselman (2005). Comparison of productive and reproductive efficiency of Afrino, Dorper and Merino sheep in the False Upper Karoo. South African Journal of Animal Science 35(2): 98-108

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