SX Fine Wool
New Generation Fine Wool Sheep
The SX Fine Wool sheep breed is a joint venture by six stud breeders, based on Merino or three-quarter Merino ewes.
The nucleus flock was established in 2013 and is held at Stonyhurst, North Canterbury.
The SX group is a breeding hub for the supply of genetics to the six studs involved.
The sheep will have the following traits…
Fine wool at 20-22 microns for ewes
Rapid early growth
Moderate fleece weights
Internal parasite resistance
High reproductive rate
Leader in development of footrot resistance
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History
Work began in 2013 when The New Zealand Sheep Industry Transformation Project supported the establishment of the nucleus breeding flock to develop a new fine-wool sheep genotype with an improved carcass, reproduction and animal health. The nucleus flock is farmed at Stonyhurst in North Canterbury.
SX Fine Wool Sheep aimed to create a breed with 20 to 22-micron wool and ewes weaning 130% to 135%. At seven months old, lambs would be able to be killed at 20kg carcase weight, and would also shear combing length wool by this age.
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Technology & Measurement
The SX Fine Wool breeders use every technological tool available to them in their quest to produce this new generation of fine wool sheep.
The group are on Sheep Genetics rather than SIL — the main reason being that there are not enough sheep similar to the SX Fine Wool breeding objectives registered here in New Zealand on SIL.
All animals are EID tagged and pedigree recorded — the data that is measured is entered into the sheep genetics database which generates Estimated Breeding Values to inform sire and female selection.
