A study of wool production parameters of genetically different Merino wethers run together

In 1984 a Merino wether trial at Matakanui station, Omakau, Central Otago, was set up to demonstrate the production possible from well-bred Merino wethers. Thirty teams of ten sheep from a variety of environmental and genetic backgrounds took part in the trial. Prizes were awarded for the highest returns per head, highest average clean fleece weight and highest liveweight off shears. Data from 1984, 1985 and 1986 which included fibre diameter, clean fleece weight, greasy fleece weight, clean scoured yield, liveweight and staple length were analysed in relation to within and between group phenotypic variation, repeatabilities and phenotypic correlations. The efficiency of wool growth was also calculated. The design of the trial was critically reviewed. Highly significant (p