Comeback sheep
{{Short description|Breed of sheep}}
The Comeback is a type of domestic sheep originating in Australia.The Land Stock Types, Rural Press, North Richmond, NSW This type of sheep results from crossbreds produced by British Longwool sheep and Merinos being mated back to Merinos. This cross is made to achieve a finer, better style of wool.[http://www.publish.csiro.au/samples/runningflock_sample.pdf Running a small flock of sheep] retrieved 2010-2-15 Comeback style wool is also produced by Bond, Cormo and Polwarth sheep and they may prove easier to breed than Comebacks.Sheep breed compendium, Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX), 2010 The Comeback sheep are raised for meat and their fine wool.
{{cite web
|url=http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/sheep/comeback/
|title=Comeback
|work=Breeds of Livestock
|publisher=Oklahoma State University, Dept. of Animal Science
|accessdate=2009-06-19}}
Characteristics
The staple length of the bulky wool is {{convert|11|cm|in|abbr=on}} with an average diameter of 21 to 25 microns.Preparation of Australian Wool Clips, Code of Practice 2010-2012, Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX), 2010
The Comeback is well adapted to high rainfall districts in Australia. Though they are similar to Merino, this breed does not have neck folds. Both sexes are either horned or polled (hornless). The average weight of mature rams is {{convert|90|kg|lb|abbr=on}} and of ewes is {{convert|60|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. At birth, ewes and rams both weigh {{convert|4.5|kg|lb|abbr=on}} on average.
{{cite web
|url=http://dad.fao.org/
|title=Comeback/Australia
|work=Breed data sheet
|publisher=Domestic Animal Diversity Information System
|accessdate=2009-06-19}}
Production
The usual method of producing Comeback Sheep is first to mate a longwool ram with a Merino ewe. When the female progeny are sufficiently mature, they are mated to a Merino ram, and this produces the Comeback Sheep. However, although these hybrid sheep may be superior to their true bred ancestors, they are unsuitable for mating to each other. If a Merino ram is used the offspring will have fine wool but probably a smaller frame. Crossing the Comeback Sheep with a longwool breed, will produce progeny that is three-quarter bred. An alternative to this tricky situation may be to choose a Polwarth Sheep instead of a Comeback Sheep as they both have a similar type of wool.{{cite web |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article90411745 |title=Comeback Sheep |date=1928-06-16 |work=Chronicle |accessdate=2015-08-15}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Sheep breeds of Australia and New Zealand}}