Australian Merino

The Australian Merino is an Australian breed or group of breeds of sheep, forming a significant part of the Merino group of breeds. Its origins lie in Merino sheep imported to Australia from South Africa in 1797. By about 1830 there were almost two million Merinos in the country.^[3]: 746

Australian Merino

Head of a ram
Conservation status	FAO (2007): not at risk[1]: 146  DAD-IS (2021): unknown[2]
Country of origin	Australia
Distribution	Australia New Zealand
Use	meat wool
Traits
Horn status	Poll Merino: polled other breeds: rams horned, ewes polled
Sheep Ovis aries

Champion ram, 1913

Merino hoggets being drenched near Walcha, New South Wales

Using the skills of breeding and selection, the Australian Merino developed inline with Australia’s large variations in climatic conditions, management and husbandry techniques.^[4] The Australian Merino produces a wool that is the world’s finest and softest.^[5]

History

In 1790, Charles IV of Spain sent a gift of Merino sheep from the Escorial cavana to the government of the Dutch Republic.^[6]: 9 They did not thrive there, but did well in the Dutch Cape Colony, in what is now South Africa.^[3]: 746

The origins of the Australian Merino lie in some of those sheep imported to Australia by John Macarthur in 1797.^[7] By about 1830, there were almost two million Merinos in the country.^[3]: 746

The original strain bred by Macarthur survives as the Camden Park or Macarthur Merino.^[8] The four principal breeds or strains that developed within the Australian Merino group were the Peppin,^[9] the Saxon,^[10] the South Australian^[11] and the Spanish.^{[3]: 746 [12]} The Poll Merino or Australian Poll Merino is a recently created polled variant.^{[3]: 747 [13]} Other strains recognised as breeds include the Booroola Merino,^[14] the Bungaree Merino,^[15] the Dohne Merino,^[16] the Fonthill Merino,^[17] the Tasmanian Merino (which derives from the Saxon);^{[3]: 746 [18]} and the Trangie Fertility.^[19]