Sheep Breeds: Drysdale

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DRYSDALE: ORIGIN AND HISTORY

Drysdale Ram
© Graham Meadows Photography

The Drysdale breed consists of sheep of Romney or part Cheviot origin which carry the N^d gene, a mutant which occurred in the Romney breed. In 1929 the late Dr F W Dry began researching the inheritance of hairiness. As a result of the first matings of hair fleeced Romney sheep, attention was drawn to the coarse, very hairy fibres (halo-hairs) which project above the rest of the fleece in the birth coat of the lamb. A ram lamb was found in a Romney flock near Palmerston North in 1931 which was donated to the newly formed Massey Agricultural College. This ram and its descendants were mated in various ways, and by 1940 the existence of a dominant gene causing a high abundance of halo-hairs had been conclusively demonstrated. This gene has been called the dominant N^d gene. The same gene was also discovered independently among descendants of the original mob of hairy Romney sheep brought into the College in 1929. From these two stocks, the Drysdale breed originated.

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BREED DESCRIPTION

THE BREED

There are over 600,000 Drysdale sheep throughout New Zealand.
The Drysdale has an average lambing percentage of over 115%.
Drysdale features easy care lambing. The ewes are excellent mothers due to conformation and good temperament. A 25mm wool cover at birth ensures a high lamb survival rate.
Drysdales are an easy to handle sheep and they move well in mobs.
Shearing is best done twice a year for the ideal 75-125mm wool length. Fleece weights average about 5-7 kilos, or about one kilo more than most crossbreds.

THE ANIMAL

Drysdale Ewe and lambs
© Graham Meadows Photography

The Drysdale is a white faced, medium to large sheep with legs and face clear of wool - the body weight is 55-70 kilos.

A dual purpose sheep, the Drysdale is a preferred animal for both meat quality and wool.
The Drysdale is well positioned in lamb growth comparisons and markets recognise the breed's ideal leanness.
Only ten days holding before processing is required after shearing, adding to the versatility of the breed.

THE WOOL

Drysdale wool is renowned for its whiteness - for vibrant colours and dyeing versatility.
The medullated Drysdale wool fibre with an average of 41 microns. Ideal for carpet manufacture.
Drysdale is:
- Free from black fibre.
- Free from paint.
- Free from contamination.
- Low kemp content.
- Has good fibre bulk.
- Low vegetable matter.
Above all Drysdale offers superb bounce back resilience and improved spinning yield results.

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BREED CLASSIFICATION

Drysdale flock
© Graham Meadows Photography

Medium-large. Very long, coarse wool. Shorn twice a year.

A dual-purpose breed, with equal emphasis on hard-fibre wool and meat.

Location: The breed is found in almost all environments throughout New Zealand.

*Bodyweight*	*Wool*
*Ewes:* 55-70 kg *Rams:* 75-100 kg (mature)	Extremely long, strong and hairy. Heavily medulatted. *Fibre diameter:* 40+ microns. *Staple length:* Shorn at 100-150mm - twice per annum *Fleece weight:* Range 6.5-8 kg Average 6 kg (13 lb). Uses: Carpet manufacture.
*Meat*
Good quality lean meat.
*Breeding/Lambing*
120+ percent.
*Numbers*
approx. 600,000

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BREED COMMITTEE

President - G P Wilson

Councillor A M Reid

BREEDERS

CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF DRYSDALE BREEDERS

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BUY & SELL

CLICK HERE FOR THE DRYSDALE SHEEP SALES PAGE

You will need to register to use the sheep sales website - please not that your advertisement will not appear until it has been approved by the administrator

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