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    A study of milk production as it affects lamb growth in Romney and Cheviot crossbred sheep : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Agricultural Science of the University of New Zealand
    (Massey University, 1952) Roberts, Euan Maurice
    Romney and Cheviot Threequarter bred 6 year old ewes, all with twin lambs, were found to produce similar quantities of milk in a 12 week lactation. The Cheviot halfbred ewes produced less milk than either the Romney or 3/4 Cheviot ewes but the disadvantage was not thought to be of an hereitary nature. Both Cheviot groups of ewes gave significantly richer milk than the Romney group. When mated to Southdown rams the ewes of the Romney and each Cheviot breed produced lambs which made similar liveweight gains.
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    A study of kemp variation in the fleeces of Cheviot ewes : a thesis presented at Massey Agricultural College in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Agricultural Science in the University of New Zealand
    (Massey University, 1959) Orwin, D F G
    The Cheviot and its crosses are becoming increasingly important as a hill country sheep in New Zealand. The popularity of the breed is based primarily on its fertility, mothering ability and hardiness. However, its wool, which is regarded as a by-product of minor importance under the English farming system, is of greater economic value to the New Zealand farmer. The fleece of the Cheviot has been criticised by people connected with the wool trade for certain faults. Naturally, such faults lower the value of the fleece. Thus, if the return per sheep is to be maximised the fleece type would need to be improved provided that such fleece improvement does not result in lowered production in other products. Of the faults pinpointed, kempiness is one which from previous experience with Romneys, offers hope of being eliminated without undue difficulty. Observations of the Cheviot flock run at Massey Agricultural College indicated that there was great variability in kempiness at different times of the year and between sheep. Such variability in itself, suggests that kempiness may be eliminated or reduced to negligible amounts by selection of kemp-free sheep.
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    A study of the shoulder architecture of the sheep involving a comparison between the Romney and Cheviot breed types : being a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of M. Agr. Sc. from the University of New Zealand, 1952
    (Massey University, 1952) Von Borstel, Frank
    In the wild state, the body form of ungulates is determined by two factors:- (1) the animal's necessity to cover ground in search of food and to escape its enemies and (2) its need to convert efficiently the food it obtains into energy for its maintenance and for the performance of the first factor. Another set of environmental responses, those incidental to the perpetuation of the race, appear to have but little influence on the bodily form of the ungulate (Howell, 1944). Hence, in the main, the musculature, skeleton, internal organs and the distribution of fat deposits in such species as the wild cattle or the wild sheep in their evolutionary response to environment would be governed by locomotive demands and the form from which a new adaptation evolved. As pointed out by Simpson (1949):- "in the evolution of a species..... the surviving organisms must meet the minimum requirements of life in an available environment and changes can only occur on the basis of what already exists." This latter factor is sometimes overlooked or not given enough emphasis in animal improvement investigations, but it is all important and probably the main reason why most adaptations are not absolutely perfect and why the selection applied by the domestic animal breeder for meat improvement cannot produce such rapid results as would be hoped.
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    Energy metabolism, ranging behaviour and haematological studies with Romney Marsh and Cheviot sheep : a thesis presented for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the University of New Zealand
    (Massey University, 1958) Cresswell, Eric
    Youatt (1776-1847 a) in commenting on British breeds of sheep, writes:- "In all the different districts of the Kingdom we find various breeds of sheep beautifully adapted to the locality which they occupy. No one knows their origin; they are indigenous to the soil, climate and pasturage, the locality on which they graze; they seem to have been formed for it and by it." Some present day students of animal husbandry are now examining the characteristics of these various breeds in the light of the particular environment in which each originated. Their object is to discover what characteristics can fairly be ascribed to particular sets of conditions, or in other words, what possible functional adaptations to environment can be revealed by study of this unique collection of soil stable breeds. Interest in the background of the development of these breeds and its possible influence on them is not however limited to the United Kingdom as British breeds of livestock have been taken to all the corners of the world in the wake of the migratory movements of the British people. For example, in New Zealand, at the time of writing, attention is being focused on the Romney-Cheviot crossbred ewe which is competing against the Romney Marsh for certain hill country and this has prompted consideration of the parent stocks (Plates 1 and 2) from the standpoint of their original habitats. This project was undertaken to augment what has already been done in New Zealand on this subject.