DIY sheep

[MotherBear]

Here you are, Moggy. Get some of these.

Sheep to be bred to shed own wool
By BECK ELEVEN - The Press | Saturday, 2 June 2007

The days of shearers' aching backs could be over with sheep that shed their own wool.

Scientists at AgResearch have been working on sheep DNA to breed animals that shed their own wool.

AgResearch principal scientist John McEwan said the "low-care, easy-care" sheep would save on labour costs and be useful in warmer climates.

He said the research into base genetics could have wider benefits where breeders could "mix and match" particular traits of sheep.

Lead scientist Dr Tricia Johnson said "shedding sheep" were gaining in popularity in New Zealand. Historically they were bred in tropical climates.

"As the prices for medium to coarse wool continue to decline, the cost of dagging and shearing sheep often outweighs the value of the wool sold, making wool a cost to sheep productions systems," she said.

The risk of flystrike and dags would be alleviated by the shedding trait.

Johnson is working with such naturally shedding breeds as wiltshire and dorper to find the genetic marker so farmers can breed a flock which will shed in purebred or composites.

From here .

[Bermy Girl]

MB, how do you chose these Titles?

[MotherBear]

I just tell it as I see it, BG. Must be a personality glitch or something.

I just spotted the Google ads above these posts - all about sheep's placentas. What the hell.....? That web crawler's been round again.

[Bermy Girl]

"DIY sheep" ? By any chance are you Welsh?

[MotherBear]

Not Welsh by birth (was born in the NE of England) but lived most of my life in South Wales until I went abroad.

[Bermy Girl]

Originally Posted by MotherBear

Not Welsh by birth (was born in the NE of England) but lived most of my life in South Wales until I went abroad.

Funny, I wasn't born in Wales either, although my mum's family are from there...I guess that sheep afinity is hereditary...