Phenotypic characteristics of male lambs of woolen sheep breeds and their relationship with liquidity and price offered at auctions in Uruguaiana - Rio Grande do Sul

Abstract

This study aimed at analyzing and comparing the phenotypic characteristics of height, body length, and fleece wool fineness with the liquidity and final price sold in auctions in the city of Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil, for three consecutive years (2015 to 2017). A total of 412 one-year-old (two teeth) male sheep, of the Australian Merino (n = 50), Polwarth (n = 130), and Corriedale (n = 232) breeds were evaluated. Height and length of the animals were measured on the day of the auction with a measuring tape, and animals were grouped into small or tall and short or long categories, as defined in this study. Wool fineness was measured using an Optical-based Fibre Diameter Analyser (FDA 2000) device and classified according to official wool classification standards (the Bradford System). There was no statistical difference in the average selling price of different breeds. There was a correlation between the breed and liquidity, in which Corriedale lambs were sold more than the Polwarth lambs, as expected; however, there was no such correlation for Merino lambs. The tall Merino lambs were sold at a higher selling price (R$ 2,449.11) than the small ones (R$ 1,826.59). Polwarth lambs exhibited positive correlations among height, length, and liquidity. Long and tall Corriedale lambs had a higher selling price (R$ 1,963.40 and R$ 1,915.02) than the short (R$ 1,656.38) and small (R$ 1,698.20) ones, respectively. In the case of Corriedale lambs, there was a positive correlation between length and liquidity. Wool fineness did not influence the selling price and liquidity in the three studied breeds. Conclusively, buyers of the Polwarth and Corriedale lambs prefer tall and long animals, regardless of the fleece wool fineness; only the height (taller lambs) seems to be a relevant factor for choosing the Merino breeders.