SMALL sheep (as" with small animals generally) have evolved in the lesser nutritional environments. The better the environment, the larger the animals that can be developed and sustained. The smallest sheep in Australia are the remnants of some of theold fine wool flocks, developed before pasture improvement in areas with a limited growing season (under six months). A similar situation is sometimes created by heavy stocking rates on improved pasture, where the sheep are kept on a sub-maintenance ration for up to eight months of the year. In round figures, the smallest sheep for a low nutritional environment weighs 40 kilograms, whereas the larger-framed sheep on the best available nutrition averages 80kg.
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