Verband tussen prestasiemetings en veilingspryse van Veldmerinoramme

Abstract

Relationship between performance measurements and auction prices of Veld Merino rams. Merino rams for veld ram clubs are received at the age of six months and then raised on natural grazing. At the age of one year, with six months wool growth, they are performance tested and six months later sold at an auction. The auction prices of rams of three of the existing nine clubs are compared with their measured performances. For each individual, a selection index is estimated from a
combination of its weighted measurements of body mass, clean-fleece mass, fibre diameter and fold score. The selection index showed the highest correlation (0,48) with auction price, followed by body mass index (0,38) and clean fleece index (0,28). In a linear regression analysis the selection index accounted for 23% of the variation in auction price, the
selection index and body mass index for 28%, the selection index, body mass index and fold score index for 31%, and all seven performance measurements for only 34%. Consequently there are other factors, other than performance measurements, that have a major influence on auction prices. Performance testing nearer to the date of the auction, will probably give better correlation values.

Merinoramme word op ses-maande-ouderdom by veldramklubs ingeneem en op natuurlike weiveld grootgemaak. Op 'n ouderdom van een jaar, met ses-maande-wolgroei, word prestasietoetsing gedoen en ses maande later word hulle op 'n veiling aangebied. Die veilingspryse van ramme op drie
veilings van die bestaande nege klubs is vergelyk met die ramme se prestasiemetings. Vir elke ram is 'n seleksie-indeks bereken wat 'n samevatting is van sy geweegde metings van liggaamsmassa, skoonvagmassa, veseldikte en plooitelling. Die seleksie-indeks het die hoogste korrelasie (0,48) met veilingsprys getoon, gevolg deur liggaamsmassa-indeks (0,38) en skoonvagindeks (0,28). Die seleksie-indeks alleen verklaar 23% van die variasie in vcilingsprys, die seleksie-indeks en liggaamsmassa-indeks 28%, die seleksie-indeks, liggaamsmassa-indeks en plooitellingindeks gesamentlik 31%, en al
sewe prestasiemetings slegs 34%. Daar is gevolglik nog ander eienskappe behalwe die prestasiemetings wat 'n groot invloed het op veilingspryse. Prestasiemetings nader aan die veilingsdatum sal waarskynlik hoër korrelasiewaardes gee.

Keywords: Auction prices, merino veld rams, performance testing.