The implications to growers of moving to merino fine wool production in intensive production systems
Citations
Altmetric:
Authors
Date
1989
Type
Dissertation
Abstract
A review of both Australian and New Zealand literature was undertaken to identify
the management factors requiring consideration when running Merino stock under
intensive production systems. Emphasis was placed on determining:
- the effects of varying levels of nutrition on fine wool characteristics and
reproductive performances;
- areas where animal health programmes may differ between Crossbred and
Merino flocks;
- factors which are likely affect the profitability of running Merino stock
classes under intensive conditions.
Under a stated set of production parameters it was estimated that a Merino ewe and
Merino wether are equivalent to 0.83 and 0.47 stock units respectively. Therefore
allowing them to be exchanged for Crossbred ewes within a productive system for 1.2
and 2.1 Merino wethers respectively.
Merino stock class production performances were gained from an informal farmer
survey, these along with Farm Class Six stock parameters and current price estimates,
were used to develop a financial analysis determining the profitably of diversifying from
an intensively run Crossbred ewe flock to an equivalent Merino ewe or Merino wether
flock (replacements purchased annually). Both fine wool scenarios were determined to
be more profitable than the Crossbred policy, although the highest return will be realised
with the adoption of the Merino ewe policy. The annual return above that of a Crossbred
ewe self replacing flock was estimated to be $ 29.78/s.u and $ 19.9l/s.u for the Merino
ewe (self replacing flock) and Merino wether (replacements purchased annually) policies
respectively.
Other factors besides profitability, in favour of the Merino ewe policy over the Merino
wether policy include:
- better fit between feed demand and pasture supply; - flexibility of prime lamb production when terminal sires are used;
- income is not solely reliant upon fine wool prices;
- ability to increase the genetic worth of the flock.
Sensitivity analyses were developed for the price and production parameters
identified as having the largest influence on the profitability of diversifying from a
Crossbred flock to an equivalent (1000 s.u) Merino flock.
It was determined that it will remain profitable for for Crossbred farmers to diversify
into a fine wool producing flock if:
- clean wool price ratios do not fall to or below 1.06 for the Merino ewe
policy and 10.9 for the Merino wether policy, Ceterus paribus;
- Merino ewe purchase prices do not exceed $242/s.u. or $ 20l/s.u. for the
Merino wether policy Ceterus paribus;
- Merino wool production does not fall below 1.85 kg/s.u. or 5.07 kg/s.u for
the Merino wether policy Ceterus paribus;
- Crossbred lamb prices do not rise to or above $74 for the Merino ewe
scenarios and $59 for the Merino wether policy Ceterus paribus.
Given that the assumed production and price estimates are realised.
Permalink
Source DOI
Rights
https://researcharchive.lincoln.ac.nz/pages/rights
Creative Commons Rights
Access Rights
Digital thesis can be viewed by current staff and students of Lincoln University only. If you are the author of this item, please contact us if you wish to discuss making the full text publicly available.