Fine Wool Breeds
The fine wool breeds produce fine and crimpy wool. Their fleece is heavy, dense, and of good quality. It contains a large amount of yolk which comprises suint and grease. Sheep have a strong banding instinct and the ability to graze on poor-quality range. Of the exotic fine wool breeds imported in India, Rambouillet and Soviet Merinos have done relatively better as purebreds. Their crosses with the indigenous breeds, however, have not shown any difference in wool production and quality.
Merino
The word Merino is derived from an early-day royal officer of Spain called the Merino, whose duty was to assign the various migratory flocks of the country to their respective grazing grounds. The origin of most fine wooled breeds traces to the Spanish Merino type. Selection within the Merino group has resulted in a large variety of breeds and strains. In addition, the Merino has been widely used in the development of many other crossbred wool breeds. The Merino is a thin-tailed, fine-wooled breed that favors the aridity of the environment. Because of their banding instinct, they are easy to herd. They are good grazers and are able to forage over large areas of poor grasslands. Merinos in general have strong constitutions and are noted for hardiness and longevity. Their face and legs are white and their skin is pink. Rams mostly have heavy spiral horns, whereas the ewes are polled. The head and legs are generally covered by wool. They have long been bred for wool production and do not carry the straight line and compactness of the mutton breeds. Mature rams weigh some 75 kg and the ewes 65 kg. Ram’s height is about 70 cm and that of Ewes is 60 cm. Fleece yield varies widely depending on environmental conditions and time of breeding but averages 4-5 kg for rams and 3-4 kg for ewes. The staple length is 5-10 cm. The Merino tends to be a seasonal breeder and this limitation results in general low prolificacy and poor lamb drop.
India has imported Soviet Merinos from the USSR which are of Stavropol and Grozny strains. These have more grease in the fleece, larger skin folds, and closed face or a larger quantity of wool on the face resulting in covering of the eyes which are not desirable characteristics.
Australian Merinos have been selected against these characters. They have lesser grease in the fleece, smaller skin folds, and have open face. However, because of the ban on export India has not been able to import Australian Merinos.
Rambouillet
The Rambouillet is a descendant of the old Spanish Merino. It was developed as a breed in France. There are two types of Rambouillets, determined by the skin folds. The B-type has lost much of its popularity and has largely disappeared. The C-type consistently improved for both meat and fleece and is enjoying the greatest popularity. Modern Rombouillets are large, rugged, fast-growing sheep. They are almost free from skin folds, of acceptable mutton conformation although not equal to the mutton breeds, and are good wool producers. The wool is of long staple, fair density, uniformity, and moderate shrinkage. The rams may have large spiral horns or are polled. The ewes are polled. They have large heads with white hair around the nose and ears. The face and legs are white, skin is pink. The ewes are good mothers, quite prolific, and are unequaled for range qualities. Mature rams in good condition and full fleece weigh from 100 to 125 kg and ewes from 60 to 90 kg.
India has imported the majority of Rambouillet from Texas (USA). The Rambouillet as purebreds and in crosses with Indian breeds have generally performed better than Russian Merinos.
Polworth
The Polworth breed originated at Tarndwarncoort in Victoria. It was evolved by mating first cross Lincoln Merino ewes with Merino rams. The comeback progeny of this mating was interbred and eventually, the Polworth breed was established. The animals resemble a plain-bodied, extra-long-stapled wool Merino. They have fairly level frames, clear eyes, soft faces, and pink noses but are sometimes mottled, and are free from skin folds. They may be horned or polled. Although the animals are bulky in appearance, they are neat and have symmetrical lines. Their fleece is of even quality, of about 58s count and the average length of a staple is not less than 10 cm.
The value of the fleece runs very close to Merino. They produce mutton of the most desirable quality.