SIRE SELECTION EFFICIENCY IN A QUEENSLAND MERINO STUD USING WOOLPLAN

In a Peppin Merino stud using WOOLPLAN, the productivity of classer's grades was examined and the selection efficiency of sires estimated for the years 1986 to 1988. There were significant differences between grades for clean fleece weight. Reserve rams had higher clean fleece weights, fibre diameters and selection indices than sale rams in each year. There was considerable variation in the production characters in both grades. Efficiency of sire selection using a selection index ranged from 61 to 71% suggesting that some emphasis was placed on the selection index in sire selection. Sires also had finer than average wool in all years.