Shearing could be chore of past for sheepmeat farmers

By PHILIPPA STEVENSON agricultural editor

Farmers concentrating on rearing sheep for their meat may soon not have to worry about that irksome byproduct - wool.

Two breeds of specialist meat sheep - the Dorper and the Damara - which do not need shearing are about to produce their first lambs in New Zealand.

AgResearch scientist Norma Merrick said embryos and semen from the two breeds, originally from South Africa, had been imported from Western Australia.

The breeds had taken off in Australia, where they now numbered more than 10,000 since being introduced in 1996, she said.

Ms Merrick is excited about the potential for New Zealand farmers from the breeds, whose genetics are expected to improve farm profitability through no lamb shearing and crutching costs, good lamb growth rates, excellent carcass conformation, out-of-season lamb production, and reduced flystrike threat. The biggest use is expected as a terminal sire.

"Both animals offer natural options for New Zealand farmers looking at specialist sheepmeat production. The low risk of flystrike means they are ideal for low chemical enterprises."

The Dorper does not grow long wool, producing an annual fleece of around 400 grams that is a mixture of hair and wool fibres. The short covering of both hair and wool sheds in spring, eliminating the need for shearing. The breech area is free of wool, reducing the threat of flystrike.

The Damara is a fat-tail sheep with a short coat of hair, similar to cattle. Coat colours range through white, brown and black, with piebald combinations.

When used over wool breeds their offspring could expect to have as little as 1.5kg of wool instead of around 5kg, Ms Merrick said.

Some farmers have imported Dorper and Damara sheep and more are expected to arrive this year. Both breeds are untested here, so the first step for researchers is evaluation of productive performance, including reproductive rates, lamb growth rates, carcase conformation, fleece cover, fleece shedding ability, pelt quality and animal health, particularly their susceptibility to internal and external parasites and footrot.

This will be done on a comparative basis with small numbers at AgResearch's Winchmore Research Station in Canterbury, where several crossbred lambs of both breeds have been born over recent days. A further five or six pure Dorper lambs are due next month.

The research will also be done in various regions, in conjunction with farmers importing semen, embryos and live animals.

Ms Merrick said the sheep would probably be best suited to the drought-prone East Coast regions in the North and South Islands.

The Dorper has lambing percentages of 125 to 150 per cent. Mature rams average 120kg and mature ewes 80kg.

The fat-tailed Damara produces lean meat from the body, with growth rates of 220g a day possible.