THE PORTUGUESE MERINO

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "THE PORTUGUESE MERINO"

Ethan Griffith
5 years ago
Views:

2 THE PORTUGUESE MERINO

3 Tiago Perloiro

History The origin of all Merinos is the Iberian Peninsula It may derived from Ovis aris vigney (Wild sheep) in the region of the Caspian sea The old merinos were black

4 History The origin of all Merinos is the Iberian Peninsula It may derived from Ovis aris vigney (Wild sheep) in the region of the Caspian sea The old merinos were black They were brought to the Iberian Peninsula by Phoenicians, Greeks and Carthaginians It may came from the iberian merino Ovis aris africana brought by the arabs from 712 A.C.

History Some say that the iberian merino came from the middle east (Ovis arkal) that spread over the mediterranean region Later with the arab invasions (Beni-Merines tribe

5 History Some say that the iberian merino came from the middle east (Ovis arkal) that spread over the mediterranean region Later with the arab invasions (Beni-Merines tribe in 1146 A.C.) they brought herds of sheep with fine wool from the north of Africa Other authors say that they already exist before the roman invasion (II - III Century B.C.)

History 200 years ago the French improve iberian merines and create 2 white breeds -

colour) from a farm near Évora were crossed in EZN with Merino Precoce and Fleischschaf

with crossings with Merino Precoce Due to the impossibility of dying the black wool the

6 History 200 years ago the French improve iberian merines and create 2 white breeds - Ramboillet Merino and Merino Precoce In the 1950 Black Merinos (recessive for the colour) from a farm near Évora were crossed in EZN with Merino Precoce and Fleischschaf (German Merino) and create Merino Fonte Boa By this time the White Merino was improved with crossings with Merino Precoce Due to the impossibility of dying the black wool the white merino took place and in the middle of the XX Century only 25% of the total were black Merinos

Portuguese Livestock (Breeding Females) Livestock population in Portugal, in 2016 (INE): sheep - 1 606 000 pigs - 233 000 cattle - 723 000 goats - 293 000 Sheep livestock has been decreasing since

7 Portuguese Livestock (Breeding Females) Livestock population in Portugal, in 2016 (INE): sheep pigs cattle goats Sheep livestock has been decreasing since 2005: Non-dairy breeding females represent 62,4% of the total livestock and 52,6% of the sheep livestock is raised in the region of Alentejo. Consumption of sheep and goat meat has been declining since Per capita consumption in 2016 was only 2,2 kg ( ton). The degree of selfsufficiency was always above 82,6% (80,0% in 2013)

8 Distribution of Portuguese Livestock Dairy Meat Cattle Pigs Sheep Goats

9 Alentejo Livestock (Breeding Females) Livestock population in Alentejo, in 2016 (INE): sheep (52,6 %) pigs (24,4%) cattle (39,1%) goats (25,9 %)

10 Evolution of White and Black Merino herds Evolution of adult White Merino herds Evolution of adult Black Merino herds Females Males Females Males

11 Breeders Location (2018) White Merino (28 breeders) Black Merino (61 breeders) Threatened breeds according to FAO

12 General caractheristics of the Merino Merino are characterized by the quality of their wool Extraordinary hardiness and adaptability to local range production systems Good maternal characteristics Continuous reproductive cicle Meat is the main production objective, but traditionally wool and milk were of some importance

Arched side, developed belly, average dorsal and kidney region, short and sligtely falling croup Skin Slim, greasy and with no pigmentation Udder Wide and well deployed with short and well inserted

13 White Merino Colour White Head Middle size, wide and short, convex profile in rams Mouth Big with big lips Eyes Big and expressive Ears Short and horizontal Horns Absent in females, frequent in males. Coiled, rough, with triangular seccion. Neck Short well covered with wool sometimes with barb usually without pleats Trunk Average volume with a horizontal dorsal line. Well developed shoulder. Arched side, developed belly, average dorsal and kidney region, short and sligtely falling croup Skin Slim, greasy and with no pigmentation Udder Wide and well deployed with short and well inserted teets Limbs Strong and well shaped, large joints, covered with wool under the knees and hocks Wool - Well covered sometimes in the face and in the forehead Fleece Very large, with cilindrical or square tresses. Homogeneous. Covers the head until the eyes line, neck, belly and limbs almost to the hooves and testicles

Neck Short well covered with wool sometimes with barb usually without pleats Trunk Average volume with a horizontal dorsal line. Well developed shoulder.

14 Black Merino Colour Black (Cocoa, Chocolate, Honey-Serrubeco and Gray-Jardo) Head Middle size, wide and short, convex profile in rams Mouth Big with big lips Eyes Big and expressive Ears Short and horizontal Horns Absent in females, frequent in males. Coiled, rough, with triangular seccion. Neck Short well covered with wool sometimes with barb usually without pleats Trunk Average volume with a horizontal dorsal line. Well developed shoulder. Arched side, developed belly, average dorsal and kidney region, short and sligtely falling croup Skin Slim, greasy and with pigmentation Udder Wide and well deployed with short and well inserted teets Limbs Strong and well shaped, large joints, covered with wool under the knees and hocks Wool - Well covered sometimes in the face and in the forehead Fleece Very large, with cilindrical or square tresses. Homogeneous. Covers the head until the eyes line, neck, belly and limbs almost to the hooves and testicles

White Merino versus Black Merino Index White Merino Black Merino Weight at birth 1

days 1 25-30 kg 20-25 kg Ram weight 1 80-85 kg 70-80 kg Ewe weight 1 45-60 kg

weight male 3 4,5-5,0 kg 4,5 kg Wool weight female 3 2,5-3,0 kg 2,5 kg Wool Yield

1 80-90% 80-85% Fecundity 1 90-130% 95-100% Prolificity 1 110-140% 110-120%

15 White Merino versus Black Merino Index White Merino Black Merino Weight at birth 1 3,5-4,0 kg 3,0-4,0 kg Weight at 70 days 4 19,35±4,03 18,66±4,07 Weight at days kg kg Ram weight kg kg Ewe weight kg kg Carcass yield adult % 40-45% Carcass yield lamb % 48% Wool weight male 3 4,5-5,0 kg 4,5 kg Wool weight female 3 2,5-3,0 kg 2,5 kg Wool Yield % 50-52% Milk production ( days) litres 20 litres Fertility % 80-85% Fecundity % % Prolificity % % Productivity % 80-90% Source DGP ; CCRA ; SPOC ; ANCORME

16 ANCORME - History ANCORME was created in 30/05/1990 and is dedicated to registration and improvement of White and Black Merino From 1990 to 1994 we have choosen the best flock with the ideal caractheristics to be included in the herd book In 1994 we have started to work the Black Merino wich were almost extinct. The support given by CAP helped the breed to grow until now On late 80 s the White Merinos grow until ewes and was considered not in danger and was no longer supported by CAP. After that, the number os ewes was reduced to less than 9.000

Parenthood analisys by DNA Portuguese Germoplasm Bank Genetic evaluation Artificial

17 ANCORME Our mission Management of the herd book Breeding Program Performance Control of lambs Electronic Identification of Flocks Genetic characterisation by DNA analisys Parenthood analisys by DNA Portuguese Germoplasm Bank Genetic evaluation Artificial Insemination Wool typification Andrological exams Wool concentration Breed promotion actions Burocratic support

ANCORME Genetic Evaluation Identification in the herd book SIA Animal Identification System Electronic Identification (chip) Wool classification

18 ANCORME Genetic Evaluation Identification in the herd book SIA Animal Identification System Electronic Identification (chip) Wool classification Date of birth Identification of the breeder and the owner Genealogy Breeding value Precision of breeding value Graphical representation of breeding value

19 Merino is Fertility Adaptability Quality The Best Breed Long life Good maternal charateristics Good wool

20 Thanks for your attention Tel ancorme@ancorme.com

WHAT IS a sheep? What is a goat? Are they the same

Introduction to Sheep and Goats WHAT IS a sheep? What is a goat? Are they the same species or just very similar? Sheep and goats are closely related and even look much alike. Both were among the first