What are the characteristics of China Merino sheep?

At present, it has been distributed to most provinces (regions) in China, especially the northern provinces. China Merino sheep was bred from 1972 to 1985 in Gongnaisi Sheep Farm, Ziniquan Sheep Farm, Gadasu Sheep Farm, Inner Mongolia, and Chaganhua Sheep Farm, Jilin. It is a new high-level fine-wool sheep breed in China.

(2) Variety characteristics

China Merino sheep is strong and rectangular, with thick and long hair, reaching the eyeliner and looking like a hat. The moustache is wide and flat, the chest is deep and wide, the back and waist are straight and wide and flat, and the hindquarters are plump. Strong limbs and posture. Rams have spiral horns, a few have no horns, and ewes have no horns. Ram neck has 1 ~ 2 horizontal wrinkles or developed longitudinal wrinkles and skirt wrinkles, while ewe has developed longitudinal wrinkles. The trunk skin of both male and female sheep is slack and there are no obvious wrinkles.

The coat is white, with cluster structure, good closure and high density. The whole body coat is obviously curved, oily white or milky white, with moderate content and uniform distribution. The length and thickness of hair tufts in all parts are uniform, the forelimbs are attached to the wrist joints, the hind limbs are attached to the hocks, and the abdominal hair is well attached, showing a hair tuft structure. The fineness of wool is 60 ~ 70. 12 months old, body side hair length not less than 9 cm, body side net hair rate not less than 50%.

(3) Production performance

See table 2- 1.

Table 2- 1 Minimum Production Performance Index of China Merino Sheep

It is proved by trial spinning that the physical and chemical properties of the product are close to 56 Australian wool imported, and it can be used as high-grade worsted fabric.

(4) Utilization ratio

This variety has strong adaptability to the local ecological environment and should be regarded as a valuable local variety resource. On the one hand, it is necessary to improve the quality of varieties by pure breeding or by introducing foreign varieties for hybridization. It can also be used as a hybrid parent to produce mutton and other commodities.

Figure 2-5 China Merino Sheep