@conference {41429,
	title = {Assessment of fleece cover in crosses between Coopworth, Dorper, Damara, New Zealand Wiltshire, Poll Dorset and Suffolk sheep},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {63},
	year = {2003},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {160-163},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	address = {Queenstown},
	abstract = {Fleece cover was assessed over 10 body regions for nine pure and crossbred combinations of progeny from longwool, short-wool and hair breeds of sheep. Assessments were made between docking and hogget shearing. Visually assessed fleece-cover scores varied by less than 0.35 units within day (P = 0.757) and 0.21 units between days (P = 0.120). Differences of 0.2 units between assessors (P<0.05) were tolerable in a scoring system utilising whole measurement units. The average fleece cover of Wiltshire and Dorper x Wiltshire lambs was 1.14 and 0.92 units less than Coopworth lambs at weaning (P<0.01) but no different at hogget shearing (P = 0.17). The temporary reduction in fleece cover at weaning was attributed to shedding of fibres from the fleece. All breed combinations studied produced between 29 and 67\% less fleece than Coopworth hoggets (P<0.001). However, without the ability to synchronously shed their fleece, first generation crossbred progeny required shearing as hoggets. },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Merrick NC}
}
@conference {41186,
	title = {Differences in wool characteristics in lines of sheep with high or low levels of backfat thickness},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {60},
	year = {2000},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {159-161},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	address = {Hamilton},
	abstract = {Relationships between backfat thickness and wool characteristics for lines of Coopworth and Southdown sheep, selected for or against backfat thickness, were studied between years and between different age classes. On average, the lean Coopworth line grew 230 g more greasy wool (P < 0.001), which was 1.7 {\textmu}m finer (P < 0.001) and less variable in diameter (P < 0.05) than the fat line. Other measured wool characteristics were not affected. The Southdown lines did not differ in fibre diameter, variability of diameter or curvature, within age groups. Southdown lambswool was finer (P< 0.001) than hogget or ewe wool (23.6 {\textpm} 4.9, 27.0 {\textpm} 5.6 and 26.7 {\textpm} 5.4). Fibre diameter differences observed in the Coopworth lines may have been a founder effect, as subsequent selection had little impact on it. Selection for leanness increased greasy fleece weight without affecting fibre diameter or staple length. },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Merrick NC and Baird DB and McEwan JC and Purchas RW}
}
@conference {40887,
	title = {Volume measurement of wool samples.},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {57},
	year = {1997},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {57-60},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {A rapid procedure for measuring the volume of wool samples was developed, using a gas pycnometer. Volume was measured on midside wool samples, harvested monthly, from thirteen sheep breeds representing a range of wool medullation categories. Clean sample weights between two and ten grams and the fourth sequential volume measurement are recommended. Volume was also calculated, using the sample mass and the theoretical density of wool. Measured and calculated volumes were the same for non-medullated wools (p=0.20), but not for highly medullated wools, the measured volume was 25\% greater than the calculated volume (p<0.001). },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Merrick NC and Scobie DR}
}
@conference {40661,
	title = {Staple tenacity versus staple strength},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {55},
	year = {1995},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {39-41},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {Six nutritional regimes were applied to 134 Friesian heifers to  determine the effects of differential rearing on productive and  reproductive performance.    Cycling animals were identified at 11.5 and 15 months by measuring  progesterone in consecutive weekly blood plasma samples. Heifers were  synchronised using CIDR devices and artificially inseminated for two  cycles, followed by six weeks of natural mating.    At 11.5 months, 95\% of the high (268 kg LW), 65\% of the medium (242 kg  LW), and 2\% of the low (186 kg LW) nutrition groups were cycling. At 15  months, all heifers in the four high groups were cycling compared to  only 82\% of heifers in the two low groups was probably enhanced by the  CIDR progesterone treatment stimulating puberty in non-cycling heifers.  Friesian heifers should average 300 kg to ensure all animals are cycling  normally prior to the start of mating.   },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Scobie DR and Merrick NC and Bray AR}
}
@conference {40666,
	title = {Wool growth responses in Drysdale and high and low staple tenacity Romney sheep to nutrient supplementation in autumn},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {55},
	year = {1995},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {54-57},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {With the increasing sensitivity towards the use of growth promoters in   animal husbandry, the search is on for },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Bray AR and Merrick NC and Smith MC and Scobie DR}
}
@conference {40588,
	title = {Comparison of methods for measuring fibre diameter of Romney Wool},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {54},
	year = {1994},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {155-158},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {Wool from lines of Romney sheep selected on the basis of staple strength  
was measured for mean fibre diameter using both the airflow apparatus and an  
Optical Fibre Diameter Analyser (OFDA).  For wool from "low strength" and  
"control" selection lines, airflow measurements tended to be upwardly biased  
in relation to the OFDA measurements, while for wool from the "high  
strength" line the airflow measurements tended to be downwardly biased.  Two  
sources of bias are known in the literature, medullation and standard deviation.   
In this work the latter seemed to be more important, which may be a  
consequence of the relatively low level of medullation present in these wools  
(8.6\%).  For research work the OFDA is put forward as the preferred  
instrument. },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Scobie DR and Merrick NC and Saville DJ}
}
@conference {40518,
	title = {Wool growth responses of Romney rams selected for high or low wool strength to nutrient supplementation in winter},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {53},
	year = {1993},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {323-326},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {Treatment of sheep, mice and humans with exogenous recombinantly- derived insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) has been reported to produce a hyperglycaemic state. In mice this is associated with the abolition of maternal constraint during pregnancy. Exogenous IGF-1 also alters renal clearance in sheep and humans, decreasing circulating concentrations of urea and creatinine. The objective of this study was to determine whether similar changes are apparent in sheep divergently selected for plasma IGF-1 concentrations. Ewe hoggets (10 months old), 16 each from the Massey University Low (L), Control (C) and High (H) IGF-1 selection lines, were blood sampled by jugular venipuncture over a 5 hour period after removal from pasture. Plasma metabolite concentrations were assayed and adjusted for the effects of sampling time relative to removal from pasture. There were no differences between the line (L vs C vs H) in plasma concentrations of urea (7.34 vs 7.35 vs 7.32 mM, Pooled SE = 0.25 mM) and, although there was a significant line effect for creatinine (P<0.05), none of the between-line comparisons was significant (0.073 vs 0.075 vs 0.075 mM, Pooled Se = 0.002 mM). However, glucose concentrations were greatest in the H line (3.72 mM), followed by the C line (3.56 mM) and the L line (3.45 mM) (PSE = 0.07 mM, P<0.05). Whereas glucose and urea concentrations declined with time off pasture in the H line (b = -0.133 },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Bray AR and Smith MC and Merrick NC}
}
