Fleece measurements in selecting merino sheep.

During recent months a number of well-attended fleece measurement demonstrations have been held in various districts. The object of the demonstrations was to make studbreeders familiar with the technique under shearing-shed conditions and, during discussion, gain a clearer understanding of fleece measurement and its application to stud-breeding. From a small group of sheep, the stud-breeders selected those they considered carried the heaviest and lightest fleeces. The whole group was then shorn and the fleeces weighed, classed and valued. The demonstrations have shown definitely that selecting for fleece weight by eye and touch is inefficient compared with the scales