Modelling a Transition from Purebred Romney to Fully Shedding Wiltshire-Romney Crossbred.

ABSTRACT: Considering the current low prices for coarse wool (fibre diameter > 30 µm), a grading up transition to a shedding flock may eliminate wool harvesting costs and increase sheep farm profit. This transition could be achieved by breeding non-shedding ewes with Wiltshire rams. A bio-economic system-dynamics model of a pastoral sheep farming enterprise was used to simulate this grading up transition from 2580 Romney ewes to a similarly-sized flock of fully shedding third or fourth cross Wiltshire-Romney ewes. The total annual sheep feed demand was constrained within a ±5% range to minimise disruption to the on-farm beef cattle enterprise. Wool harvesting expenses were eliminated after seven years of transition, and with reduced feed demand for wool growth, the post-transition shedding flocks ha

SUBMITTER: Farrell LJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7695207 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature