Issues Involved in Declaring Contact with Exotic Sheep

There is a well established body of research that has established that there is potential for contamination of merino wool in specific circumstances.

This Research has shown that contamination of merino wool by exotic sheep or their crossbred offspring can occur via three mechanisms:

• contact of the ewes with the exotic rams during mating;
• contact of the ewes with their offspring following such matings; and
• penning coloured sheep and white sheep together close to shearing.

Contamination is less likely if merinos are allowed to graze in paddocks previously grazed by exotic sheep, or in paddocks adjacent to exotic sheep.  However, the research in this area is not as extensive.