Features of sheep breeding in Australia
In Australia, sheep breeding gained widespread popularity as early as 1830. In the mid-19th century, Australian farmers began mass production of wool for export. Until now, sheep wool from Australia is considered the best in the world.
In the 20th century, sheep breeding moved to a new level. In 1926 the first wool sheep exhibition was held in Australia. Farmers who used to produce and sell woolen products began to breed new breeds. It was from Australia that homologous sheep spread around the world.
Homologous sheep
Homologues are hornless sheep that have an accelerated metabolism. Homologues include both woolly and meat breeds.
The accelerated metabolism allows woolly breeds to grow hair faster. Meat sheep because of this property consume more feed and therefore gain weight faster.
Sheep-homologues of meat breeds are prone to obesity, therefore they can withstand low temperatures. Excessive fat deposition is fraught with a decrease in immunity, therefore, free grazing for greater physical activity is very important for homologues.
Exhibition sheep breeding
Many Australian farmers grow wool sheep for exhibitions only. This is more profitable because the cost of keeping several individuals is much lower than the cost of maintaining a whole flock.
The pluses of exhibition sheep breeding also include:
- saving space for keeping sheep;
- the fame of the farm;
- the ability to redirect funds to other business sectors.
Many Australian farmers participating in international exhibitions open hotels on their farms for foreign tourists. The winners of exhibitions are often visited by the first persons of many countries, for example, Great Britain and Sweden.
Sheep farming in Australia is a family business. A few years ago, Len, the head of a family of farmers, raised more than 5,000 sheep, but switched to exhibition sheep breeding. He bred his own breed of woolly sheep with a pale orange color. There is no similar breed in the world.
The family farm maintains 50 champion sheep. Even the hump on the sheep's nose matters, so the farmer carefully monitors the purity of the breed. Flax earns tens of thousands of dollars for one individual at auctions, which allows the farmer to breed new breeds, as well as self-education.