THE PORTUGUESE MERINO

Tiago Perloiro tperloiro@ancorme.com

History• The origin of all Merinos is the Iberian Peninsula

• It may derived from Ovis aris vigney (Wild sheep) in the region of the Caspian sea

• The old merinos were black

• They were brought to the Iberian Peninsula by Phoenicians, Greeks and Carthaginians

• It may came from the iberian merino Ovis aris africana brought by the arabs from 712 A.C.

History• Some say that the iberian merino came from the middle east (Ovis arkal) that spread

over the mediterranean region

• Later with the arab invasions (Beni-Merines tribe in 1146 A.C.) they brought herds ofsheep with fine wool from the north of Africa

• Other authors say that they already exist before the roman invasion (II - III Century B.C.)

History• 200 years ago the French improve iberian merines and create 2 white breeds - Ramboillet Merino and Merino Precoce

• In the 1950´ Black Merinos (recessive for the colour) from a farm near Évora were crossed in EZN with Merino Precoce andFleischschaf (German Merino) and create “Merino Fonte Boa”

• By this time the White Merino was improved with crossings with Merino Precoce

• Due to the impossibility of dying the black wool the white merino took place and in the middle of the XX Century only 25% of the total were black Merinos

Portuguese Livestock(Breeding Females)

• Livestock population in Portugal, in 2016 (INE):• sheep - 1 606 000

• pigs - 233 000

• cattle - 723 000

• goats - 293 000

• Sheep livestock has been decreasing since 2005: Non-dairy breeding females represent 62,4% of the total livestock and 52,6% of the sheep livestock is raised in the region of Alentejo.

• Consumption of sheep and goat meat has been declining since 2008. Per capita consumption in 2016 was only 2,2 kg (23 000 ton). The degree of selfsufficiency was always above 82,6% (80,0% in 2013)

Distribution of Portuguese Livestock

Pigs Sheep Goats

DairyMeat

Cattle

Alentejo Livestock(Breeding Females)

Livestock population in Alentejo, in 2016 (INE):sheep - 844 756 (52,6 %)pigs - 56 852 (24,4%)cattle - 282 693(39,1%)goats - 75 887(25,9 %)

Evolution of White and Black Merino herds

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2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Evolution of adult White Merino herds

Females Males

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4000

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2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Evolution of adult Black Merino herds

Females Males

Breeders Location (2018)• White Merino (28 breeders)

Threatened breeds according to FAO

553+ 9710

10263

• Black Merino (61 breeders)

751+ 14824

15575

General caractheristics of the Merino

• Merino are characterized by the quality of their wool

• Extraordinary hardiness and adaptability to local range production systems

• Good maternal characteristics

• Continuous reproductive cicle

• Meat is the main production objective, but traditionally wool and milk were of some importance

White Merino• Colour – White

• Head – Middle size, wide and short, convex profile in rams

• Mouth – Big with big lips

• Eyes – Big and expressive

• Ears – Short and horizontal

• Horns – Absent in females, frequent in males. Coiled, rough, withtriangular seccion.

• Neck – Short well covered with wool sometimes with barb usuallywithout pleats

• Trunk – Average volume with a horizontal dorsal line. Well developedshoulder. Arched side, developed belly, average dorsal and kidneyregion, short and sligtely falling croup

• Skin – Slim, greasy and with no pigmentation

• Udder – Wide and well deployed with short and well inserted teets

• Limbs – Strong and well shaped, large joints, covered with wool underthe knees and hocks

• Wool - Well covered sometimes in the face and in the forehead

• Fleece – Very large, with cilindrical or square tresses. Homogeneous. Covers the head until the eyes line, neck, belly and limbs almost to thehooves and testicles

Black Merino• Colour – Black (Cocoa, Chocolate, Honey-Serrubeco and Gray-Jardo)

• Head – Middle size, wide and short, convex profile in rams

• Mouth – Big with big lips

• Eyes – Big and expressive

• Ears – Short and horizontal

• Horns – Absent in females, frequent in males. Coiled, rough, withtriangular seccion.

• Neck – Short well covered with wool sometimes with barb usuallywithout pleats

• Trunk – Average volume with a horizontal dorsal line. Well developedshoulder. Arched side, developed belly, average dorsal and kidneyregion, short and sligtely falling croup

• Skin – Slim, greasy and with pigmentation

• Udder – Wide and well deployed with short and well inserted teets

• Limbs – Strong and well shaped, large joints, covered with wool underthe knees and hocks

• Wool - Well covered sometimes in the face and in the forehead

• Fleece – Very large, with cilindrical or square tresses. Homogeneous. Covers the head until the eyes line, neck, belly and limbs almost to thehooves and testicles

White Merino versus Black MerinoIndex White Merino Black Merino

Weight at birth 1 3,5 - 4,0 kg 3,0 - 4,0 kg

Weight at 70 days 4 19,35±4,03 18,66±4,07

Weight at 120-150 days 1 25-30 kg 20-25 kg

Ram weight 1 80-85 kg 70-80 kg

Ewe weight 1 45-60 kg 40-50 kg

Carcass yield adult 1 42-45% 40-45%

Carcass yield lamb 1 48-50% 48%

Wool weight male3 4,5-5,0 kg 4,5 kg

Wool weight female3 2,5-3,0 kg 2,5 kg

Wool Yield3 50-52 % 50-52%

Milk production (90-100 days)2 20-25 litres 20 litres

Fertility1 80-90% 80-85%

Fecundity1 90-130% 95-100%

Prolificity1 110-140% 110-120%

Productivity1 90-130% 80-90%

Source DGP 19921; CCRA 20012; SPOC 20093; ANCORME 20174

ANCORME - History

• ANCORME was created in 30/05/1990 and isdedicated to registration and improvement ofWhite and Black Merino

• From 1990 to 1994 we have choosen the best flockwith the ideal caractheristics to be included in theherd book

• In 1994 we have started to work the Black Merino wich were almost extinct. The support given byCAP helped the breed to grow until now

• On late 80´s the White Merinos grow until 15.000 ewes and was considered not in danger and wasno longer supported by CAP. After that, thenumber os ewes was reduced to less than 9.000

ANCORME – Our mission• Management of the herd book

• Breeding Program

• Performance Control of lambs

• Electronic Identification of Flocks

• Genetic characterisation by DNA analisys

• Parenthood analisys by DNA

• Portuguese Germoplasm Bank

• Genetic evaluation

• Artificial Insemination

• Wool typification

• Andrological exams

• Wool concentration

• Breed promotion actions

• Burocratic support

ANCORME – Genetic EvaluationIdentification in the herd book

SIA – Animal Identification SystemElectronic Identification (chip)

Date of birthIdentification of the breeder and the owner

Genealogy

Precision of breeding value

Graphical representation of breeding value

Breeding value

Wool classification

Merino is …

• Fertility

• Adaptability

• Quality

• The Best Breed

• Long life

• Good maternal charateristics

• Good wool

Thanks for your attention

Tel + 351 266 744287 e-mail ancorme@ancorme.com

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