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Wether Trial Results

Mirani wethers are currently in trials in Blackall (Qld), and Condobolin (NSW) where they are performing well in non-traditional fine wool areas. As well as continuing to produce large quantities of fine wool, the sheep appear to maintain price premiums for their wool, and have significantly increased gross margins over the local bloodlines.

Click on the links for results from:

Walcha Wether Trial

W.A. wether trials

Benlindi wether trial (Blackall)

To view Gross Margin Performance, click here

Wether Trial results form all over Australia have been combined so bloodline
performance may be evaluated over a range of different environments.

Copies of this report may be obtained from:
Allan Casey
Advanced Breeding Services
Forest Rd Orange,
NSW 2800
Email: allan.casey@agric.nsw.gov.au

Results of the Walcha Wether Trial 1995-1997

Team No.	Team Owner	Bloodline	Rank	Ave Return 1995	Ave Return 1996	Ave Return 1997	Ave Trial Return	Carcase Value	Total Ave Return	Ave Live Wt 1997
1	A. Burgess	Ruby Hills	8	29.96	33.14	34.38	32.49	21.41	53.91	56.2
2	M. Fenwicke	WRBG	17	23.83	28.11	30.39	27.44	21.79	49.24	57.2
3	J. McLaren	Nerstane	5	34.93	32.08	31.54	32.85	22.17	55.02	58.2
4	C. Laurie	Boree	12	28.40	31.00	30.69	30.03	22.17	52.20	58.2
5	E. Barnet	Miramoona	21	23.29	27.40	27.86	26.18	20.69	46.87	54.3
6	Nivison Family	Mirani	1	32.01	41.88	43.05	38.98	20.12	59.10	52.8
7	D. Cameron	WRBG	15	25.98	29.70	31.49	29.06	20.50	49.55	53.8
8	B. Miller	Nerstane	19	23.86	28.16	28.88	26.97	21.49	48.46	56.4
9	R. Fulloon	Cressbrook	2	31.21	34.29	32.83	32.78	23.16	55.94	60.8
10	G. Nivison	Yalgoo	3	30.19	36.57	39.50	35.42	20.38	55.80	53.5
11	L. Blanch	Westvale	20	25.63	31.06	32.70	29.80	18.52	48.31	48.6
12	R. MacLean	Saumarez	18	24.39	28.19	29.88	27.49	21.53	49.01	56.5
13	J. Wood	Nerstane	14	27.52	30.48	27.82	28.61	21.53	50.13	56.5
14	J. Maher	Gostwyck	7	25.20	35.09	38.06	32.78	21.18	53.97	55.6
15	J. Hayter	Petali	24	20.23	25.21	26.32	23.92	20.27	44.19	53.2
16	J. Harris	Abbington	23	22.16	26.22	26.29	24.89	20.69	45.58	54.3
17	L. Fletcher	Coomooloo	6	30.05	37.27	33.59	33.64	20.73	54.36	54.4
18	M. Endacott	Merrindee	25	20.74	27.39	27.55	25.23	18.82	44.05	49.4
19	A. Wood	Bungulla	16	29.10	28.99	29.75	29.28	20.12	49.40	52.8
20	I. Sutherland	Deargee	11	28.32	29.94	37.06	31.77	20.96	52.73	55.0
21	A. Van Eyk	Shalimar	4	26.06	34.17	38.09	32.77	22.71	55.48	59.6
22	G. Fletcher	Auchen Dhu	9	29.61	32.12	31.76	31.16	22.40	53.57	58.8
23	D. Rainger	Wanganella	26	18.99	26.77	23.89	23.22	20.35	43.56	53.4
24	R. King	WRBG	13	29.35	30.28	28.49	29.37	20.84	50.21	54.7
25	D. Fletcher	Auchen Dhu	22	23.36	26.89	26.15	25.47	20.69	46.15	54.3
26	J. Hayter	Nerstane	10	30.87	31.37	32.46	31.57	21.34	52.90	56.0

Western Australia Wether Trial Results

CSIRO Fine Wool Teams Perform Well in WA Wether Trials

Bronwyn Clarke

Great Southern Agricultural Research Institute

Katanning, WA, 6317

Agriculture WA, at the Great Southern Agricultural Research Institute, is working with woolgrowers involved in wether trials to link trials across the state. The trials that are currently linked are located at:

· Condinup (near Esperance)
· Esperance
· Katanning
· Minignew
· Newdegate

Further interest was added to the Katanning and Condingup trials by the inclusion of teams from CSIRO’s fine wool flocks to demonstrate the performance of fine wool animals in different environments in Western Australia. The Katanning wether trial included two teams (Mirani and Hazeldean) of weaners that had been born at the Great Southern Agricultural Research Institute (GSARI). The same two bloodlines were represented in the Condingup trial and were wether hoggets from Yalambee Research Station.

The Mirani team had the lowest average fibre diameter and the lowest clean fleece weight but the highest average fleece value in the Katanning trial. There was a greater than $15.00/head difference between the highest and lowest average fleece values. The prices used for the trial were based on the premiums and discounts that applied to all wool sold at auction in the first quarter of the 1997/1998 wool selling season.

A similar difference in price was found by the Condingup wether trial. They found a difference between the highest and lowest fleece values for green tag wethers of over $17.00/head.

Under the current wool market differences in team performance may not be fully realised. However, the inclusion of the fine wool teams into WA wether trials has certainly added much interest. Proof that fine wool wethers can be competitive in a Mediterranean environment. Such is the level of interest that we are struggling to meet demand to include fine wool sheep in new trials.

Results from the Eastern Wether Trial (Condingup) four tooth shearing

Team	Fibre Diameter (microns)	Clean Fleece Weight (kg)	Average Fleece Value ($)
Hazeldean	19.7	5.34	$49.53
Mirani	19.4	4.60	$44.35
Team 9	22.7	5.27	$40.77
Team 8	23.1	6.28	$40.22
Team 6	21.6	6.48	$40.08
Team 7	21.6	4.70	$35.79
Team 2	21.7	4.82	$35.62
Team 11	20.5	4.06	$35.19
Team 1	22.1	4.86	$33.91
Team 12	23.3	5.70	$33.75
Team 3	23.1	5.32	$33.35
Team 4	23.4	5.16	$31.55
Group Average	21.9	5.22	$37.84

Benlindi Wether Trial Results

Results available soon

© MIRANI 2007