Wiltipoll
Encyclopedia
The Wiltipoll is a breed
of polled
domestic sheep
that was developed in Australia
from Wiltshire Horn
sheep with the infusion of Border Leicester
, Perendale
, Poll Dorset
and Poll Merino
genetics, that are raised for meat.
s. These sheep must have at least 96.87% Wiltshire Horn genetics, completely shed their fleece annually and be polled. The ewes are seasonal breeders, but are good mothers, have high fertility with a high percentage of multiple births.
Wiltipoll sheep may weigh up to 125 kg (275.6 lb) under reasonable conditions.
Wiltipoll sheep (polled Wiltshire Horn) shed their wool annually in spring to summer and produce lean, heavy lambs. They are a polled breed (no horns) bred for the production of prime lamb. The wool is simply shed and falls to the ground.
Due to this process, the energy of the sheep is directed into meat and milk, not wool.
The breed is therefore very low maintenance as there is no need for shearing, crutching, mulesing, jetting, dipping and docking of tails. The Wiltipoll is grass seed resistant and fly and lice resistant, reducing the need for chemicals or the painful practice of mulesing. All this equates to less expense and less work.
Wiltipolls have a high lambing percentage of 130-180% and tremendous maternal instincts. They are renowned for multiple births, twins and triplets. This requires less ewes to manage and feed with more prime lamb to sell. They produce prime lambs without laying down fat therefore producing a very lean, excellent quality meat.
As the Wiltipoll are polled, the sheep are easier to handle and less bruising occurs.
Wiltipolls ideally suit small acreage holders and also those farmers who can not continue with the workload assocatiated with wool breeds. This breed are very hardy and can survive on rough, scrubby feed.
Breed
A breed is a group of domestic animals or plants with a homogeneous appearance, behavior, and other characteristics that distinguish it from other animals or plants of the same species. Despite the centrality of the idea of "breeds" to animal husbandry, there is no scientifically accepted...
of polled
Polled livestock
Polled livestock are livestock without horns, of species that normally have them. The term refers both to breeds or strains which are naturally polled through selective breeding and also to naturally horned animals which have been dehorned...
domestic sheep
Domestic sheep
Sheep are quadrupedal, ruminant mammals typically kept as livestock. Like all ruminants, sheep are members of the order Artiodactyla, the even-toed ungulates. Although the name "sheep" applies to many species in the genus Ovis, in everyday usage it almost always refers to Ovis aries...
that was developed in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
from Wiltshire Horn
Wiltshire Horn
The Wiltshire Horn is a breed of domestic sheep originally from Wiltshire in southern England raised for meat. The breed is unusual amongst native British breeds, for it has the unusual feature of moulting its short wool and hair coat naturally in spring, alleviating the need for shearing. They...
sheep with the infusion of Border Leicester
Border Leicester
The Border Leicester is a breed of sheep originating in England and raised primarily for meat. Border Leicesters are polled, long-wooled sheep. Though large in size and robust, they are also docile...
, Perendale
Perendale
The Perendale is a breed of sheep developed in New Zealand by Massey Agricultural College for use in steep hill situations. The breed is named after Sir Geoffrey Peren and it achieves its aims by being the offspring of Romney ewes and Cheviot rams with sturdy legs...
, Poll Dorset
Poll Dorset
The Poll Dorset is a short wool, meat producing sheep that was developed in Australia between 1937 and 1954 with the aim of breeding a true Dorset type sheep without horns. The poll gene was introduced into Dorset Horn flocks from two other polled breeds and following a strict back-mating programme...
and Poll Merino
Poll Merino
The Poll Merino is a subtype of the Australian Merino breed of domestic sheep, without horns, that was developed in Australia.-Characteristics:...
genetics, that are raised for meat.
History
The polled variety of the Wiltshire Horn sheep was developed in Australia to create a polled variety of the easy-care Wiltshire Horn sheep suitable for heavy lamb production. In 1996 the breed association was formed and has expanded rapidly.Characteristics
Wiltipolls are large, easy care, plain bodied sheep that shed their wool annually. They do not require crutching or shearing and do not suffer readily from fly strike which makes them a useful breed for small holdings without shearing shedShearing shed
Shearing sheds are large sheds located on sheep stations to accommodate large scale sheep shearing activities.In countries where large numbers of sheep are kept for wool, sometimes many thousands in a flock, shearing sheds are vital to house the necessary shearing equipment, and to ensure that the...
s. These sheep must have at least 96.87% Wiltshire Horn genetics, completely shed their fleece annually and be polled. The ewes are seasonal breeders, but are good mothers, have high fertility with a high percentage of multiple births.
Wiltipoll sheep may weigh up to 125 kg (275.6 lb) under reasonable conditions.
Wiltipoll sheep (polled Wiltshire Horn) shed their wool annually in spring to summer and produce lean, heavy lambs. They are a polled breed (no horns) bred for the production of prime lamb. The wool is simply shed and falls to the ground.
Due to this process, the energy of the sheep is directed into meat and milk, not wool.
The breed is therefore very low maintenance as there is no need for shearing, crutching, mulesing, jetting, dipping and docking of tails. The Wiltipoll is grass seed resistant and fly and lice resistant, reducing the need for chemicals or the painful practice of mulesing. All this equates to less expense and less work.
Wiltipolls have a high lambing percentage of 130-180% and tremendous maternal instincts. They are renowned for multiple births, twins and triplets. This requires less ewes to manage and feed with more prime lamb to sell. They produce prime lambs without laying down fat therefore producing a very lean, excellent quality meat.
As the Wiltipoll are polled, the sheep are easier to handle and less bruising occurs.
Wiltipolls ideally suit small acreage holders and also those farmers who can not continue with the workload assocatiated with wool breeds. This breed are very hardy and can survive on rough, scrubby feed.