Choosing a bloodline source
The following five steps in conjunction with the latest Merino bloodline results will assist commercial woolgrowers to identify a ram source that will increase profitability:
- Set your flock breeding objective
Long-term breeding objectives will most commonly be met by three important traits: fleece weight, fibre diameter and body weight. Set objectives according to production targets and/or an economic statement.
- Benchmark performance
Use data in Merino Bloodline Performance to compare your current bloodline’s performance with other bloodlines and to your flock breeding objective. Identify other bloodlines that match your objective.
- Consider all traits
While fleece weight, fibre diameter and body weight will dominate most breeding objectives, other traits will affect your choice of bloodlines. Therefore your flock’s long-term breeding objective for all traits should be considered.
- Performance progress
There is a five to 10-year lag between the bloodline’s current performance and the already published results, so consult representatives of the bloodlines you are considering to discuss their own performance monitoring system and likely rate of progress.
- Constraints
If several bloodlines have a similar rank based on the main traits in your breeding objective, then constraints (most often centred on ram price and availability) will often decide the selection of a ram source and must be considered.
Return to Breeding for profit supplement