Performance of sheep on New Zealand hill country

Abstract

The growth and composition of 5-, 10-, and 15-month-old Merino, Romney, Corriedale, Perendale, and Border Leicester x Romney wethers on steep New Zealand hill country were studied. The Merinos grew slower than the Romneys and Corriedales, and the Perendales and Border Leicester x Romneys were the fastest-growing breeds, both in terms of live weight and carcass weight. Some benefits to hill country farmers of changing to a faster-growing breed of sheep are discussed.Data are given on the growth of various components weighed at slaughter, and detailed results are presented on the composition of the carcasses. The Romney is shown to be leaner than the other breeds at the same carcass weight. Growth coefficients differed between breeds lor omental fat, carcass protein, and eye muscle area.Taste panel results on leg roasts showed that the panel members preferred the meat from yearling sheep to that from young lambs. 283

Body composition of cull ewes from New Zealand hill country

“…The results from this trial have shown, as in the lamb trial of Kirton et al (1974), that higher individual carcess weights were achieved in cull ewes on hill country from the BR than from the RR in the same flock.…”

“…Taste panel assessment shows that ewe mutton can be acceptable to consumers as roasting meat, although it has a slightly lower score than those reported for lamb (Kirton et al 1974). …”

Relationship between carcass composition and first oestrus in Romney ewe lambs

“…The object of the different levels of nutrition immediately after weaning was to ensure that some lambs showed oestrus while others did not. Nutrition during this period affects the probability of a lamb showing oestrus over and above the nutritional effects on live weight (Moore & Smeaton, 1980 (Kirton, Dalton & Ackerley, 1974 (Kirton & Pickering, 1967 …”

Performance of sheep on New Zealand hill country

“…This paper presents the growth and wool production from five breeds of wethers slaughtered at three ages. The carcass results are presented by Kirton et al (1974) in part II.…”