@article {3672,
	title = {Lamb castration and tailing practices in New Zealand: results of a questionnaire},
	journal = {New Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production},
	volume = {78},
	year = {2018},
	month = {07/2018},
	pages = {96-99},
	address = {Lincoln},
	abstract = {There is a large body of literature that has examined the impacts of castration and tailing on lamb behaviour, stress response,
pain and productivity (Fisher et al. 2010; Kent et al. 1993; Mellor et al. 2002; Mellor \& Stafford 2000). Recently, Kerslake
et al. (2015) investigated lamb tail docking, residual tail length and the reasons behind farmers{\textquoteright} choice to dock. There is little
information available, however, regarding castration methods and reasons for the choice of leaving lambs entire, castrated or
short-scrotumed. A printed questionnaire was distributed to ~12,000 farmers on the Beef + Lamb New Zealand database. The
questionnaire contained 30 questions on aspects of management of flystrike, louse control, tailing and castration. Information
was sought regarding percentage of lambs tail docked, method used to remove tails, reason for the tailing decision, proportions of
male lambs left entire or castrated or short scrotumed, the method used to castrate or short-scrotum, and the reason for choice of
male lamb type. A total of 1253 (10\%) of questionnaires were returned. Of the farmers that responded, the most commonly used
tailing method was a hot iron (61\%), followed by rubber rings (31.4\%). Lamb growth was the primary reason that farmers gave
for leaving lambs entire, and to a lesser degree short-scrotum. The reason behind the decision to castrate was most commonly
related to lamb behaviour, however, a number of reasons had similar frequencies (lambs stay cleaner, infertility and meat quality).},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Corner-Thomas RA and Ferguson MB and Kenyon PR and Stafford KJ and Pomroy WE}
}
@conference {3678,
	title = {Strategies to grow the value of New Zealand{\textquoteright}s fine-wool sheep industry},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {74},
	year = {2014},
	month = {06/2014},
	pages = {191-195},
	address = {Napier},
	abstract = {The New Zealand Merino Company Limited is leading a programme to create new opportunities and value for New Zealand{\textquoteright}s sheep industry by transitioning growers to finer-wool genotypes and enhancing productivity on current and future fine-wool farms. This paper describes the approaches being undertaken to effect these changes and in doing so grow the value of the fine-wool sheep industry of New Zealand. A strategy has been developed that is focussed on changing the knowledge, attitude, skills and aspirations of producers and their key influencers. The strategy has a range of activities that can be grouped into the broad areas of development, awareness, recruitment and engagement. Importantly the on-farm strategy is matched with significant investment in careful product differentiation and improvement of the flow of information and value through the supply chain.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Ferguson MB and Rutherford S and Hamilton N and Hargadon M and Trompf JP}
}
@conference {78994,
	title = {Genetically, Merino ewes that lose less live weight during joining have a higher chance of having lambs but the total weight of the born lambs is not affected},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {72},
	year = {2012},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {95-99},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	address = {Christchurch},
	abstract = {Sheep in many areas of Australia and New Zealand experience periods of variable feed supply. Merino sheep can be bred to be more resilient to this varying feed supply. Resilient sheep lose less live weight when grazing poor quality pasture. However, we do not know if breeding for live weight change genetically affects reproduction. To estimate genetic correlations between live weight change and reproduction we used information from 6,870 fully pedigreed Merino ewes aged two- to four-years-old. Liveweight change was measured during joining (42 days) on low quality pasture and during lactation (130 days) on high quality pasture. Reproduction traits were total weight of lambs born and weaned and binary traits of whether or not a ewe gave birth to, or weaned, a lamb. Genetic correlations between live weight change and reproduction within age were estimated. There were moderate to high genetic correlations between live weight loss during joining and the chance of having and weaning a lamb. All other correlations were low. Therefore, change in live weight during joining affects the chance of having a lamb but not the weight of those lambs.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Rose G and Mulder HA and van der Werf JHJ and Thompson AN and Ferguson MB and van Arendonk VAN}
}
