Poll Merino

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The Poll Merino is a subtype of the Australian Merino breed of domestic sheep without horns. A single gene with three possible alleles control horn inheritance.[1]

allele Result Comment
P Poll Dominant to p and P1
P1 Horns Recessive to P, Dominant to p
p Horns in rams, scurs in ewes Recessive to P1 and P

[edit] History

The Poll Merino was developed in Australia. The Reno stud in Moree was started in 1932, Boonoke Poll in 1934 and Merryville Poll in 1938. The early Western Australian studs (Cranmore Park 1947, Belmore Park 1957) purchased Boonoke poll rams.

Otway Falkiner started the Boonoke Poll Stud using 13 'sports', which had no horns, from the Boonoke 1934 drop of nearly 9,000 rams, from the 13, 8 where put over 400 Boonoke ewes the following year. The first offering of Poll Boonoke rams to the public was in 1937.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Dolling, C.H.S (1961). "Hornedness and polledness in sheep. 4. Triple alleles affecting horn growth in the Merino". Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 535 - 361 12 (3): 355–361. 
  • Cottle, D.J. (1991). Australian Sheep and Wool Handbook. Melbourne, Australia: Inkata Press, 20-23. ISBN 0-909605-60-2.