Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4 Western Australia, Series 4
Volume 1
Number 2 February, 1960 Article 10
1-1-1960
Autumn v Spring shearing Autumn v Spring shearing
W L. McGarry I. K. Stott
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Recommended Citation Recommended Citation
McGarry, W L. and Stott, I. K. (1960) "Autumn v Spring shearing," Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4: Vol. 1: No. 2, Article 10.
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• An experiment conducted for two years at the Muresk Agricultural College provided some interesting facts
AUTUMN v SPRING SHEARING
By W. L. McGARRY, Officer in Charge, Sheep and Wool Section, and I. K. STOTT, B.Sc. (Agric), Sheep and Wool Adviser
I
N the agricultural areas of this State it is customary to shear in the late winter or spring, usually some time between July and September. In an experiment con- ducted at Muresk Agricultural College during the past two years it has been shown that shearing in autumn (March) has resulted in more wool being produced with higher returns than when shearing at the conventional time.For t h e two-year period of t h e t r i a l t h e average cut per h e a d of t h e a u t u m n shorn sheep was 11.75 lb. compared w i t h 10.54 lb.
from those shorn in t h e spring. Adjusted to one level t h e average price of t h e a u t u m n - s h o r n wool was 56d. per lb. com- pared with 57.2d. per lb. for s p r i n g - s h o r n wool. T h e average r e t u r n per h e a d from t h e a u t u m n - s h o r n sheep was £2 14s. 10d., compared with £2 10s. 3d., from t h e s p r i n g - shorn sheep.
Statistical analysis showed t h a t in b o t h years, t h e wool weight differences were significant a t t h e 1 per cent, level. Al- t h o u g h in both years t h e r e was a large difference in lamb m a r k i n g percentages in favour of t h e a u t u m n shorn group, these differences were not statistically signifi- c a n t .
EXPERIMENTAL DETAILS
T h e experiment was commenced after the 1956-57 (December) mating, w h e n 60 six-tooth Merino ewes mated to Border Leicester r a m s were selected from t h e College flock. They were divided a t r a n - dom into two groups of 30 a n d given numbered ear tags. Group 1 was t o be a u t u m n - s h o r n a n d Group 2 spring-shorn.
Average body weights a t this stage were 117.87 lb., in Group 1 a n d 114.66 lb. in Group 2.
F r o m t h e n on both groups were r u n in the same paddock a n d given t h e same t r e a t m e n t . Body weights were t a k e n at
m o n t h l y intervals. There was not signifi- c a n t body weight variation between t h e groups.
On March 31, Group 1 were shorn a n d Group 2 crutched. At this stage, t h e groups were p u t in separate but even paddocks for lambing.
Lambing, commenced on May 13. Birth weight, n u m b e r of sets of twins, drop a n d m a r k i n g percentages were noted. Lambs were weighed a t monthly intervals until weaning.
Group 2 were shorn on September 9 a n d Group 1 completed their 12 m o n t h s wool growth a n d were shorn a t t h e end of March, 1958.
RESULTS 1957/58
Av. greasy wool—weight A T . Price—lb
A T . Return—sheep
A T . Weight of fleece wool ....
A T . w e i g h t of skirtings Per cent, tender fleeces Per cent, l a m b s dropped t o
ewes m a t e d
Per cent, l a m b s marked t o ewes m a t e d
No. s e t s of t w i n s A T . birth weight l a m b s
* A T . w e a n i n g weight lambs
• 13/9/57.
T h e experiment was repeated for
Group 1 ( A u t u m n -
shorn.) 12.33 lb.
55.4d.
£2 14s. 9d.
8.58 lb.
3.75 lb.
4%
110%
106%
6 10 lb.
66.1 l b .
Group 2 (Spring-
shorn.) 11.19 lb.
52.2d.
£2 8s. 9d.
8.53 lb.
2.66 lb.
23%
86%
83%
3 9.5 lb.
68.9 lb.
second year with t h e same groups of ewes.
147
RESULTS 1958/59 -
Av. greasy wool—weight Av. c l e a n wool—weight Av. price—lb
Av. r e t u r n — h e a d
Av. w e i g h t of fleece wool Av. w e i g h t of s k i r t i n g s P e r c e n t , t e n d e r fleeces P e r c e n t , l a m b s d r o p p e d
ewes m a t e d
P e r c e n t , l a m b s m a r k e d ewes m a t e d
No. set t w i n s
Av. B i r t h w e i g h t l a m b s t o t o
* Av. w e a n i n g w e i g h t l a m b s
G r o u p 1 ( A u t u m n -
s h o r n . ) 11.0 l b . 6.84 l b . 58.6d.
£2 13s. 9d.
7.1 l b . 3.9 l b . 10%
100%
87 5 7.95 l b . 63.4 l b .
• 5 / 9 / 5 8 .
G r o u p 2 ( S p r i n g -
s h o r n . ) 9.78 l b . 6.04 l b . 62.3d.
£2 10s. 9d 7.18 l b .
2.6 l b . 60%
67 63 1 8.5 l b . 71 l b .
appetite a n d wool growth t h r o u g h s h e a r - ing was greater in t h e a u t u m n t h a n in t h e spring.
No a t t e m p t was m a d e to " m a n a g e " for t h e prevention of grass seeds a n d a l t h o u g h t h e a u t u m n - s h o r n group carried more seed it did not a p p e a r to affect t h e i r thrift. As was expected, skirting h a d to be heavier in t h e a u t u m n - s h o r n sheep
(approximately 50 per cent heavier in both years). It is considered t h a t with m a n a g e - m e n t aimed at minimising grass seed i n - festation .this h a n d i c a p to a u t u m n s h e a r - ing could be largely overcome. Two ways of doing this are "topping" with a mower or " s h a t t e r i n g " with a cable. T h e l a t t e r
DISCUSSION
Wool.—In both years t h e a u t u m n - s h o r n group cut significantly more wool t h a n t h e spring-shorn group. I n t h e second year when clean wool weights were considered the a u t u m n - s h o r n s were still superior. It is considered t h a t the a u t u m n - s h o r n sheep grew more wool because t h e stimulation of
method is a quick cheap method of greatly reducing t h e grass seed h a n d i c a p over large areas.
The percentage of tender wool was m u c h less from the a u t u m n - s h o r n sheep (4 per cent, compared with 23 per cent, in t h e first year, a n d 10 per cent, compared with 60 per cent, in the second y e a r ) . By 148
shearing in t h e a u t u m n t h e wool, is shorn t h r o u g h where t h e break usually occurs and as a result, any staple weakness dis- appears or is of minor importance. With spring shearing this mid-season "break,"
caused by poorer nutrition in t h e late summer and a u t u m n a n d a g g r a v a t e d by lambing tends to be in the middle of the staple.
T h e a u t u m n - s h o r n wool was significantly less tender, was drier a n d higher yielding but h a d more seed t h a n t h e spring-shorn.
However, the m a i n seed difference was in the pieces a n d bellies. There was little difference in t h e seed content of t h e fleece wool from b o t h groups. T h e average quality (count) of both groups did not vary m u c h . T h e a u t u m n - s h o r n wool was more "locky" a n d fleeces more difficult to h a n d l e t h a n t h e spring-shorn wool. In the first year t h e average price per pound was 53.4d. for t h e a u t u m n a n d 52.2d. for the spring wool. In t h e second year the a u t u m n wool averaged 58.6d. a n d the spring 62.3d. Overall t h e a u t u m n wool averaged 56d. lb. a n d the s p r i n g - s h o r n wool 57.2d. lb.
Because of t h e extra weight, r e t u r n s per h e a d in both years were in favour of the a u t u m n - s h o r n group.
Lambs.—An a u t u m n (March) shearing before a n a u t u m n (May) lambing is, in effect, a pre-lambing shearing. It is well recognised t h a t sheep thrive b e t t e r "off s h e a r s " and, for this reason, it was antici- p a t e d t h a t , a p a r t from the effect on the wool, a u t u m n shearing would be beneficial in t h a t ewes would be thriving b e t t e r at lambing time. Ewes would be better m o t h e r s with free access to t h e t e a t s , less liable to become cast a n d unable to get to t h e i r feet, more inclined to seek shelter with the lambs and, with the b e t t e r thrift, would go increased milk production. These are basic concepts which are still probably t r u e , but in this experiment, they did not
show out. Thrift of ewes and lambs in b o t h groups was very similar. Birth weight of lambs was practically identical as were weaning weights when allowances was m a d e for t h e extra twins in Group 1. It m u s t be remembered, however, t h a t sheep in the experiment were intensely managed.
Ewes, particularly a t lambing time, were given close a t t e n t i o n and feed was ample.
Under flock conditions it is m u c h more likely t h a t the advantages suggested would show out.
I t is interesting, b u t not statistically significant, to note t h a t in both years there were over 20 per cent, more lambs marked in t h e a u t u m n t h a n in the spring shorn groups. In other words, t h e differences a p p a r e n t for m a r k i n g percentage c a n be assumed to have occurred merely by chance. F u r t h e r work may be w a r r a n t e d on this aspect.
SUMMARY
Systems of a u t u m n and spring shearing with a n a u t u m n lambing have been compared.
An increase in weight of wool per head for t h e a u t u m n - s h o r n sheep resulted.
R e t u r n s per head were slightly in favour of those sheep shorn in the a u t u m n .
The thrift of lambs was similar in both groups, but under flock conditions an a d v a n t a g e to t h e lambs from t h e a u t u m n shorn ewes can be anticipated.
Marking a n d drop percentages were higher from the a u t u m n - s h o r n ewes but these differences were not significant.
Shearing in a u t u m n is as good, or better, t h a n shearing at t h e conventional time in spring. How either time "fits i n " with t h e m a n a g e m e n t on any particular farm is t h e governing factor in the final decision.
The a u t h o r s wish to express their t h a n k s to t h e Principal a n d staff of Muresk Agricultural College for their co-operation a n d assistance in carrying out this trial.
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