scholarly journals Merino sheep and the intrapaddock patterning of herbaceous species on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia.

1981 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 116 ◽  
Author(s):  
JA Taylor
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Herbaceous Species ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
South Wales

Water consumption and water turnover of sheep grazing semiarid pasture communities in New South Wales

1974 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 339 ◽  
Author(s):  
AD Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Water Consumption ◽  
Mineral Content ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Supplementary Data ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Water Turnover ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Reduced Water

The water consumption and water turnover of Merino sheep grazing on three natural pastures of south-western New South Wales were recorded throughout 1 year, and supplementary data on the water consumption of sheep on some pastures were collected for a further 2–4 years. On Danthonia caespitosa grassland, water was consumed for up to 7 months each year over the summer months. Maximum intakes were 3–3.5 litres per sheep per day, but this was reduced for 1–2 weeks after falls of rain of less than 25 mm and for longer periods after heavier falls. The provision of shade reduced water turnover by a maximum of 0.3–0.5 litre per day on some occasions only, which indicates that shade is of little importance to woolled sheep. On the saltbush (Atriplex vesicaria) and belah-rosewood (Casuarina cristata-Heterodendrum oleifolium) communities, water intakes were up to 6–7 litres per day in summer. In the particularly dry summer of 1972–73, water intakes of the sheep on saltbush rose to 12 litres per day for several months. The higher water intakes of these sheep were attributed mainly to the high mineral content of the Atriplex and Bassia spp. eaten by them, although the sheep on the belah-rosewood community were also in a hotter environment. In contrast to the sheep on Danthonia, those on the bush communities consumed significant amounts of water throughout the winter in years of low rainfall.

Lambing potential and mortality in Merino sheep as ascertained by ultrasonography

1992 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 311 ◽  
Author(s):  
RJ Kilgour
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Reproductive Potential ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Lower Number ◽  
The State ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
South Wales

The results of commercial ultrasongraphic determination of fetal number in 47 648 autumn-joined and 7846 spring-joined Merino ewes on private properties in New South Wales were analysed to determine reproductive potential. Overall, about 12% of maiden ewes and 31% of adult ewes were diagnosed as carrying twins, with about 5% of ewes diagnosed as dry. Season of joining had no effect on these proportions, except for a slightly lower number of dry ewes among those spring-joined. This analysis indicates that the average flock gives birth to 121 lambs per 100 ewes joined, while the average number of lambs marked per 100 ewes is 80. This means that the State flock is achieving only two-thirds of its potential.

Relationships between Tree Cover and Grass Dominance in a Grazed Temperate Stringybark (Eucalyptus laevopinea) Open-Forest

1999 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Gibbs ◽  
Nick Reid ◽  
R. D. B. Whalley
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Tree Cover ◽  
Herbaceous Species ◽  
Mature Tree ◽  
Root Zones ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Open Forest ◽  
Tree Canopies ◽  
Microlaena Stipoides

Dominance of herbaceous species was examined in relation to tree cover in lightly grazed stringybark Eucalyptus laevopinea open-forest recovering from ringbarking and logging on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales (NSW). The dominant herb was recorded in 121 quadrats (0.25 m2) in 24 plots (10 × 10) stratified by tree cover (beneath trees, away from trees, and amongst small sapling stands). Aristida ramosa dominated the grassy understorey in interspaces, whereas Microlaena stipoides was the most frequent dominant beneath and near tree cover. Poa sieberiana was also more abundant beneath trees. Dominance varied in sapling stands between these three species, suggesting that tree invasion triggers herbaceous succession away from A. ramosa towards M. stipoides and P. sieberiana. It is suggested that year-long green, shade-tolerant grasses such as M. stipoides are better suited to the shaded, fertile, frost-protected environment beneath mature tree canopies, and deep-rooted, summer-active grasses such as A. ramosa are favoured away from the canopies and root zones of trees.

Phenotypic variance of fibre diameter along wool staples and its relationship with other raw wool characters

1990 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 463 ◽  
Author(s):  
GD Denney
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Change ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Phenotypic Correlation ◽  
Phenotypic Variance ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Grazing Sheep ◽  
Staple Strength

The variance of fibre diameter along the staple was estimated in a flock of 198 two-year-old Merino sheep, whose management and nutrition were typical of grazing sheep in central-western New South Wales. In a subgroup of this flock, it was found that the estimated variance of fibre diameter along the staple was highly repeatable between duplicate staples sampled from the same sheep, and variation in fibre diameter along the mid-side sample was representative of that variation in the whole fleece. In the main flock, variance of fibre diameter along the staple varied from 0.74 to 6.98 �m2 between sheep, but there were no differences between castrated males and ewes. Differences were found between sire groups in their susceptibility to environmental change. Phenotypic correlation between variance of fibre diameter along the staple and staple strength was -0.30 (P<0.001), but correlations with other raw wool characteristics were not different from zero (P>0.05).

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