Feral sheep ( <i>Ovis aries</i> L.) of Arapawa Island, Marlborough Sounds, and a comparison of their wool characteristics with those of four other feral flocks in New Zealand

Abstract

Abstract The feral sheep of Arapawa Island, Marlborough, New Zealand, occupy a range of approximately 700 ha on the eastern slopes which border Cook Strait. There are about 120 animals, of which about 90% have black‐pigmented wool. They are probably of merino origin and the flock may date from the 1860s. Adults make up 65% of the population and their sex ratio is 2 rams to 3 ewes. The ewe:lamb ratio averages about 1:0.4. The most common social groups are either all adult males or family groups of adult ewe(s) and progeny. In comparison with commercial merinos, the sheep produce fleeces of low greasy weight, high bulk and low yield. The fleece is often wholly or partially lost during an animal’s lifetime. The wool fibres have a higher average crimp than do those of commercial merinos but the mean diameter is similar. The fibre diameter distributions are markedly skewed towards coarseness. Skin characteristics such as the ratio of secondary to primary follicles (S/P ratios), follicle densities, and follicle depths are low compared to commercial merinos. The wool and skin characteristics of Arapawa sheep were compared with those of feral sheep from Pitt Island, Woodstock, Campbell Island, and Raglan which have quite different origins. They have different mean fibre diameters, but there is a common trend toward low greasy fleece weight, high bulk, low S/P ratios, and low follicle density.