1-History of German Merino strains

2-Quality measurements with ancient Merino wool probes

3-Conclusions

It is important to consider historical aspects to become reminded of our ancient roots and tradition and also to get better background information for evaluating existing developments. The basis of this report is an old collection of wool samples at the former Agricultural University at Berlin and investigations published by Fischer and Leucht (1987, 1988).

1. History of German Merino strains

The basis of the German Merino gene pool was founded by limited importation of Merino stock from Spain about 240 years ago to the central German provinces of Saxon and Brandenburg in a temperate climate, with moderate precipitation ranging from 400 to 800 mm/y. The importation to the Electorate of Saxony, as a royal present of best Merinos, represents the nucleus of so-called Electoral sheep (Fig. 1). The appearance of the animals was fairly uniform. The live weight of a sheep was from 25 to 30 kg.

Fig. 1 : Electoral Merino (photo: 1906)

The animals grew extremely fine carding wool with a very low clean weight of about 25 %. The thin skin was tight and without any folds. The sheep were known as difficult feeders and were sensitive to dampness and wet pastures. Therefore, the sheep were protected from the weather. They were housed at night and additionally stall fed with turnips and other on-farm available foodstuffs. The superfine wool produced considerably attracted the English wool market at this time. The achievement of German breeders over half a century resulted in a Saxon type of fine, low, dense and lustrous true grown wool, that was entirely free from coarse and silvery hair running through the fleece. However, the antagonistic result of the unique preference of fine wool selection was a change of the original hardy Spanish stock to a weak light-fleeced animal.

Another genetic source used in the German Merino breed consisted of the Austrian Merino strain named Negretti (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2: Negretti Merino (photo:1892)

These sheep grew also a very fine wool but showed a low-set compact body. While great stress was laid on the quantity of greasy wool yield and dense wool growth, the tough skin finally developed heavy folds on the neck rump, haunches and tail. The fine wool produced was especially known for its high content of lower solving grease. At the beginning of the 19th century, breeding activities in the former Prussian provinces of Silesia and Brandenburg tended to overcome the disadvantage of overemphasized breeding developments of the Electorals and Negrettis. They tried to combine the adverse advantages of both breeds by combination. This resulted in a fine wool type called the "Eskurial" or "German Thoroughbred Sheep". In the middle of the last century, the production of superfine wool ceased, due to the requirement of longer, coarser and less crimped wool. Breeding of the former type of sheep became unprofitable through insufficient yield and falling prices for finest wool.

From different herds of Electoral, Negrettis and Electoral-Negrettis, the breeding strategy in direction to the German Thoroughbred was continued with special emphasis on larger, heavier body type and faultless rumps covered with a dense and deep staple of equable fine wool. Differentiated breeding objectives finally lead to three different Merino types

"Merino-Tuchwoll" sheep (Merino carding wool) : a special wool type, a medium sized animal (40 kg) with very fine wool (AAA/AAAA) and a staple length up to 4 cm for the production of the finest cloths and felts (Fig. 3).

Fig. 3: Merino Carding Wool (photo: 1904)

"Merino-Stoffwoll" sheep (Merino combing wool sheep) : a type equally bred for wool and meat with an increase of body weight, staple length and yield of clip. By crossing with the French Rambouillets, an above medium body size type with more meat was developed. The wool quality (AA/AAA) was less than that of the carding wool sheep but the staple length was higher of 4 to 7 cm (Fig. 4).

Fig. 4: Merino Combing Wool (photo 1904)

"Merino-Kammwoll" sheep (combing wool sheep) : bred for wool and meat, with a compact body densely covered with combing wool of high quality (A/AA), good regularity and of greater staple length (above 6 cm) (Fig. 5).

Fig. 5: Combing Wool Sheep (photo: 1891)

At the beginning of the 20th century, the emphasis on wool production made sheep production more and more unprofitable. By using French mutton Merino type (Précoce Merino) and British Leicester types, the former combing wool sheep was converted to a mutton wool and finally to the German Merino Mutton sheep (Fig. 6). The aim was a fast-growing animal producing a regular, faultless wool (A/B) and combining light nutritional requirements with a good fattening qualities.

Fig. 6: Hornless Merino Mutton-Dual Purpose (photo: 1892)

Within the whole breeding process, a continuous recurrent use of Spanish Merino importation was the case, whereby strains with different genetic make up were selected for further breeding. However, superfine wool Merino from Germany highbred was exported to many countries in the world . In Fig. 7, a schematic diagram shows the historic pathway of the Merino sheep developments. Here is demonstrated another important use of original Merino genomes, with the development of the most important strain of the so-called "German Merino Land Sheep". The foundation of this breed happened in Southern Germany (especially in Württemberg), initially by crossing with local breeds, and later on with mutton sheep breeds. Merino Land Sheep has been acknowledged as a hardy breed of large body size that carry Merino-like wool with lower fineness (A/AB/B) but especially possess early maturity and aseasonality, as well as good walking and fattening characteristics. A special breeding strategy for more humid conditions had been recently performed in Eastern Germany, by crossing Merino-Land Sheep with American Merino mutton breeds and with Russian long-wool types (Fig. 7). This resulted in a new breed, named "Merino Longwool Sheep".

Fig.7. History of Merino Breeds in Germany

Since the beginning of this decade, Merino mutton and Merino Longwool are mainly been displaced by the economically superior, mutton aligned, Merino Land Sheep, which is now the most important breed in Germany. This is reflected by the different proportions of Merino breeds today; for example Merino Land Sheep (30,1 %), Merino Longwool Sheep (14,3 %) and Merino Mutton Sheep (3,8 %).

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2.Quality measurements with ancient Merino wool probes

The source of wool probes used was a collection at the Humboldt University of Berlin (Fischer and Leucht, 1987, 1988). The wool was stored in glasses and breed/strain, year, sex and owner of the animals were also recorded.

To compare the quality of ancient and recent wool probes, the following criteria were taken: fineness, crimps and length, as main selection measures (Table 1) and tensile strength, tensile elasticity as valuable characteristics for the textile industry (Table 2).

Table 1: WOOL QUALITY TRAITS OF HISTORIC AND RECENT MERINO WOOL SAMPLES

* Moeglin-flock owned by A. Thaer; N=number of samples; CV%=coefficient of variation

Table 2: PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF HISTORIC AND RECENT MERINO WOOL SAMPLES

* Moeglin-flock owned by A. Thaer; N=number of samples; CV%=coefficient of variation

From the first group of criteria, the known positive relationship between fineness and crimps on one hand and the negative relation between these measures and length on the other hand, can be seen. Furthermore, it can be seen how much wool quality has been improved after importation of original stock on one side, and on the other side how much wool fineness has been deteriorated with decline of wool prices and the greater emphasis on meat selection and infusion of mutton breeds. The introduction of Russian Stavropol Merinos (descending from Australian origin) into the East-German type of mutton Merino did not very much affect the Merino wool quality. Today, the strongest Merino wool is being found in the Merino Longwool sheep.

Physical characteristics showed also a high negative correlation for fineness of wool; while tensile strength has been increased tremendously, tensile elasticity has remained nearly constant. The important effect of fineness on strength is also demonstrated by the index trait expressed as tensile strength in relation to fineness. From this relationship, it can also be concluded how little physical wool quality has been affected within a time period of 150 to 200 years.

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3. Conclusions

Quality measurements from sporadic collected samples of Merino strains in Germany are covering a very long breeding time span of about 200 years.

The most significant quality trait, that is wool fineness, improved in the first phase of importation, but declined in later stages.

This development reflects changing selection aims with respect to higher wool yields and later on selection for meat qualities.

Synchronously, length of wool has been altered in the same way, whereas in the extreme form, the integration of Merino strains with higher wool growth during the recent period, resulted in a special German Longwool Merino type.

Fineness and length of wool of the different Merino mutton types has remained nearly constant during the last hundred years.

Tensile characteristics are very much depending on wool fineness. Fibre elasticity has been remained quite stable, whereas tensile strength measurements have increased significantly. Longwool Merinos displayed outstanding values, even after correcting for differences in wool fineness.

Results show that highest qualities can be produced under variable climatic and ecological conditions of Central Europe, depending on genetic potential and additional management refinements.

Qualities of the non-food commodity wool persist over long time periods demonstrating that wool belongs to one of the most durable quality products of animal production.

Existing genetic variability of still available Merino strains in the world should be exploited for further developments of economical and environmental adapted strains.

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4.References

Fischer, A. and Leucht, W. (1987): Untersuchungen von Wollproben aus der Geschichte der Merinozucht in Deutschland. Arch. Tierz., Berlin 30, 6: 539-545.

Fischer, A. and Leucht, W. (1988): Textil-physikalische Prüfung historischer Wollen aus der Merinozucht. Arch. Tierz., Berlin 31, 4: 399-405.

König, K.-H., Gutsche, H.-J., Heurich, H., Kupatz, B. (Redaktionskollegium) (1968): Schafe - Zucht, Haltung, Fütterung. VEB Deutscher Landwirtschaftsverlag, Berlin.

Leucht, W., Fischer, A. and Stier, H. (1995): Schafe: Eine Anleitung zur Züchtung, Haltung und Nutzung. 4. überarb. Aufl.- Berlin: Dt. Landwirtschaftsverl., ISBN 3-331-00689-0.

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