New low maintenance sheep launched

AgResearch scientist Dr David Scobie with the new breed of sheep, the Snowliner, which has bare breeches and bellies.

09-03-2009 | Gerard Hall

A new breed of sheep looks set to revolutionise the sheep industry by eliminating crutching and dagging.

Innovative research by AgResearch scientist Dr David Scobie has resulted in a sheep with bare breeches and bellies, dramatically cutting costs for farmers.

Scobie's 12 years of research has been picked up by ram breeders John McDonald and his Cheddar Valley Station partners.

Many of the 80 farmers spoken to by Country-Wide at last month's launch of the Snowliner, Cheddar Valley's bare breeched terminal and maternal breed option, say it is not before time.

Much of the workload in running sheep is directly related to wool-crutching and dagging. While swinging a hand piece or dagging shears certainly creates a thirst, it is time consuming and the costs involved are simply a drag on the bank account.

Scobie's research that makes sheep with bare breeches and bellies a reality can change all that.

Cheddar Valley's Snowliner ewe flock is made up of 900 fully DNA-recorded ewes, to which have been added another 300 ewes. Ewes are non-breed specific and have a bare breech "Snowline' pattern from three through to six. Animals are being visually assessed using the criteria developed by Scobie and his Lincoln based AgResearch team.

McDonald says it is about adding a physical attribute that, unlike some others in the past, actually has a purpose. Scobie's research clearly shows these attributes add real value to sheep farmer returns.

McDonald says monitoring on the group's North Canterbury property, Cheddar Valley Station, shows up to 40% of the main mob of ewes require dagging prior to shearing. This compares with 7% of the first generation Snowliner ewes. Mated separately, pregnancy scanning rates and subsequent lambing performance of both groups is similar.

While the trait may involve a complicated gene pattern, visually assessing and scoring each animal using Scobie's graded scale is a simple task and sure beats whipping dags off.

There is some way to go yet, but McDonald says with numbers he expects major progress in bare breech patterns during the next two years.

Adult ewes are being scored prior to December shearing and the ewe lambs in April.

Ram lambs are being scored at a year old. By that time they have developed their adult pattern and ticked the box for other productive traits including growth rate and fleece weight.

As well as having all the other performance attributes required of them, stud rams being used this year will be from a team with breech patterns from four to seven.

All rams retained for own use, those sold, and the replacement two-tooth ewes for both the maternal and terminal flocks, still have to rank in the top 30% for other traits.

McDonald says the decrease in fleece weight will be more than offset by the reduced costs and workload. "Net returns per ewe actually increase."

He believes there is nothing wrong in a slight reduction in fleece weight as long as the wool's style and processing attributes are maintained.

He says the Snowliner ewe fleece is a high bulk, 34-35 micron, white and wearable wool with a story and imagery to ensure it becomes a sought- after niche product.

Shearing will be once a year rather than six monthly.

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