The most common breed of sheep in Australia is Merino. Sheep breeding

The most common breed of sheep in Australia - merino - is known even to people far from agriculture. On things made from merino wool, there is always an indication of this fact. And they cost more than made from another. So the name is practically at everyone's hearing.

Australia's most common sheep breed: history of origin

Merino descended from rams - immigrants from Spain. Until the 16th century, it was this country that held the lead in sheep breeding and their quality. The breed was laid in the 12th century, when the Spanish sheep breeders very successfully crossed several lines taken from the north of Africa and Asia Minor. The result of these successful experiments could not be taken out of Spain for a long time: the caught smuggler was executed immediately. And so it went on until the 18th century. Only then merinos (breed of sheep) became available for breeding in other countries. First they settled in Sweden, in the middle of the century they reached Saxony, and at the end of it they were brought to Australia. The population in this country began with the cargo of only one ship, on which only 70 animals could be “packed” without harm to their health. Now merino is the most common breed of sheep in Australia. Of the five rams grazing in its open spaces, four are just merino. On this continent, special attention is still paid to their improvement and selection.

Why merinos?

It would seem that Australia is a dry country, and sheep require a place for grazing. The rams, it seems, should not have received the necessary conditions. Nevertheless, it was the merino who settled on its territory. And there are several reasons for this.

1. The most common breed of sheep in Australia is very unpretentious. She has no special requirements for food, landscape and temperature. Most sheep are poorly accustomed to the surrounding changes, while merinos are rather indifferent to them, so that when moving the losses in the stock are minimal.
2. The main agricultural purpose of the merino is wool. However, in the face they are quite profitable. Moreover, the age of the individual does not particularly affect the quality of the meat (unless it is a ram producer).
3. Merino breeds quickly and without any particular complications. Despite the fact that lambing in females is possible only once a year, they bring from 2 to 5 lambs with good survival.

But the main advantage of merinos is their wool. Just it brings benefits for the sake of which these animals are bred: sheep give a fleece of very high quality. And you can’t get the best from any other breed.

Woolen Features

Why is merino sheep wool so valued? There are several explanations for this.

1. The combed (scientifically - worsted) fleece is extremely thin. It has a thickness several times smaller than human hair.
2. The fibers themselves retain heat for a long time and are pleasant to the touch even before any treatment.
3. Merino wool has high thermal insulation properties. In suits, it is not hot to walk in the sun and not cold in cold weather. As a result: the person in them does not sweat.
4. In the fiber extracted from merino, there is natural lanolin, which to some extent gives it bactericidal qualities.
5. Merinos give only white wool. It is considered the best for any production, since it allows painting in any color.
6. With one kilogram of wool given by sheep of this breed, the fabric is three times more than with the same amount trimmed from a ram having coarse wool.

Varieties of Australian Merino

During the time that merinos were bred on this continent, the breed of sheep gave three varieties.

1. Fine. The species with the smallest mass is an average of 70 kg. Unlike traditional merinos, they do not have folds of skin on the neck in front. At the same time they have the thinnest wool - 15 microns. Bred in areas with a humid and cold climate.
2. Medium. In weight gain up to 85 pounds, the wool is slightly thicker (fineness class - 66), contained in the steppe zones.
3. Strong Maximum weight (95 kg), so it’s interesting as a meat supplier. Fine-grained is most weakly expressed - about 24 microns. However, this is still very thin coat.

All species give a lot of wool - at least 10 from a sheep and up to 25 from a large ram.

Content Features

Merinos are a grazing breed and are kept on pastures for most of the year. Experienced sheep farmers draw the attention of beginners to the following nuances:

1. In spring, when the weather is still cool, the flock is expelled into the meadow only after the dew has melted - wet coat often leads to mass diseases.
2. In the heat, the pasture should be located next to the pond, and you need to send the sheep to freedom with sunrise.
3. Merino has a weak spot - hooves. Check, clean and trim them if necessary regularly.
4. In warm time, constant checks of the skin for parasites are needed: thick wool creates favorable conditions for them.

Otherwise, as already mentioned, these are very undemanding animals. Sheeps practically do not need supervision and do not wander. It is enough to tie the leading animal into place, and the whole flock will not go anywhere.