Sheep: Hyfer

Country of Origin

Australia

Watchlist Status

LOST

Uses

Wool, meat, lamb production

Breed traits

Hyfer sheep were developed to provide specialist lamb producers with an alternative dam breed. Hyfer ewes had higher lambing rate and more reliable spring joining ability than breeds then available in Australia. Hyfer had straight breeding which allowed producers to breed their own replacement ewes to reduce costs and the risk of introduction of disease as well as creating incentives for genetic improvement. Hyfer sheep were developed over 12 years combining Dorset (l/2), Booroola Merino (l/4) and Trangie Fertility Merino (l/4) breeds into a base population to achieve a high level of fecundity and year-round joining ability. https://www.aaabg.org/livestocklibrary/1990/ab90049.pdf

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