Africa SUMMARY

Merino stud flocks. Merino lambs were more (PcO.05) likely to be born as singles than Dohne Merinos and SA Mutton Merinos. Pooled triplet and quadruplet litters were more (PcO.05) common in Dohne Merinos than in Merinos, while SA Mutton Merinos had more (PcO.05) lambs in this class than Dohne Merinos. Within litter size classes, Dohne Merino twins were more likely (PcO.05) to survive to weaning than Merino contemporaries. Average lamb production (kg of lamb weaned per lambed ewe per year) over thre lambings were higher (PcO.05) in SA Mutton Merinos than in Dohne Merinos, while Dohne Merino ewes outperformed (PcO.01) Merino ewes. Yearling SA Mutton Merinos were heavier (PcO.01) than Dohne Merinos, which were heavier (PcO.01) than Merinos. An interaction (PcO.01) between breed and sex for yearling traits was also evident. Merinos produced more (P<O.Ol) clean wool than Dohne Merinos, which produced more (PcO.01) clean wool than SA Mutton Merinos. Average fibre diameter of Merinos and Dohne Metinos was similar, but SA Mutton Merino wool was broader (PeO.01)