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{{Short description|New Zealand breed of sheep}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}}
{{Infobox sheep breed
| name          = Coopworth
| image         = Coopworth sheep.jpg
| image_size    = 
| image_alt     = 
| image_caption = A ram in the United States
| status        = {{ubl|{{nobreak|[[FAO]] (2007): not at risk{{r|barb|page=146}}}}|[[DAD-IS]] (2021): unknown{{r|dad}}}}
| altname       = 
| country       = New Zealand
| distribution  = {{ubl|Australia|Europe|United States}}
| standard      = 
| type          = 
| use           = meat
| weight        =
| maleweight    = 50–70 kg{{r|dave|page=16}}
| femaleweight  = average 55 kg
| height        =
| maleheight    = <!---average 55 cm{{r|dad}}
| femaleheight  = average 50 cm{{r|dad}}--->
| skincolour    = white
| woolcolour    = white
| facecolour    = white
| horns         = [[polled livestock|polled]]
| note          =
}}

The '''Coopworth''' is a modern New Zealand [[list of sheep breeds|breed]] of [[domestic sheep|sheep]]. It was developed by researchers at [[Lincoln College (New Zealand)|Lincoln College]] in the [[Canterbury, New Zealand|Canterbury]] [[regions of New Zealand|region]] of the [[South Island]] between about 1956 and 1968, the result of [[cross-breeding]] of [[New Zealand Romney]] ewes and [[Border Leicester]] rams.{{r|cabi|page=788|dad}} It has become the second-most numerous sheep breed in New Zealand, and has been exported to Australia, some European countries, and the United States.{{r|cabi|page=788}}

== History ==

The Coopworth was developed between about 1956 and 1968 at [[Lincoln College (New Zealand)|Lincoln College]] (now Lincoln University), near [[Christchurch, New Zealand|Christchurch]] in the [[Canterbury, New Zealand|Canterbury]] [[regions of New Zealand|region]] of the [[South Island]] by researchers under Ian Coop.{{r|cabi|page=788|dad}} The aim of the project was to increase the [[prolificacy]] or lambing percentage of ewes.{{r|cabi|page=788}} To this end, [[New Zealand Romney]] ewes were [[cross-breeding|put to]] [[Border Leicester]] rams; the Border Leicester was at that time the most prolific breed in New Zealand. Successive generations were then [[selectively bred]] based on strict performance recording for factors including fertility, maternal qualities, rate of growth and fleece weight.{{r|coop|dave|page2=28}} Results came fast – by about the fourth generation the cross-bred line was thought better than a direct Romney–Border Leicester cross, despite the benefit of [[heterosis]] in the latter.{{r|cabi|page=788|coop}} A [[breed association]], the Coopworth Sheep Society of New Zealand, was formed in 1968 after a meeting of breeders.{{r|cabi|page=788}}

The Coopworth soon became widespread. By 1984 it was the second-most numerous breed in New Zealand after the Romney, constituting almost 20% of the national flock and almost half the number of Romneys; in 2000 it represented about 10% of the whole population, while the Romney made up almost 60%.{{r|dave|page=20}}

It was soon exported to Australia (from 1975), to the United States (from 1970) and to some European countries.{{r|cabi|page=788|dave|page2=28}}

== Characteristics ==

The Coopworth looks much like the Romney, but is rather larger.{{r|dave|page=28}} It is of medium size: mature ewes weigh about {{nobreak|55 kg}},{{r|cabi|page=788}} rams some {{nobreak|50–70 kg.}}{{r|dave|page=16}} It is [[polled livestock|polled]], white-faced and white-woolled; the face and legs are free of wool.{{r|dave|page=16}} It is a lowland sheep, more suited to improved lowland pasture than to hill country.{{r|dave|page=28}}

The '''Woodlands Coopworth''' is a strain within the Coopworth breed, characterised by an [[X-linked gene]] which increases [[ovulation]] by about 40%, and so contributes to greater [[fecundity]].{{r|cabi|page=788}}

== Use ==

The Coopworth is reared for both [[meat]] and [[wool]]. Fleeces weigh about {{nobreak|5 kg}}; staple length is in the range {{nobreak|200–230 mm,}} with a fibre diameter of about {{nobreak|35 [[μm]]}} ([[Bradford count]] 48/46s). The wool is used for clothing, for hand-spinning, and in carpet blends.{{r|dave|page=16}}

== References ==
{{reflist|refs=

<ref name=barb>Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). [https://web.archive.org/web/20200623201209/http://www.fao.org/3/a1250e/annexes/List%20of%20breeds%20documented%20in%20the%20Global%20Databank%20for%20Animal%20Genetic%20Resources/List_breeds.pdf List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources], annex to [https://web.archive.org/web/20170110125634/http://www.fao.org/3/a-a1250e.pdf ''The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture'']. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. {{ISBN|9789251057629}}. Archived 23 June 2020.</ref>

<ref name=cabi>Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). [https://books.google.com/books?id=2UEJDAAAQBAJ ''Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding''] (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. {{ISBN|9781780647944}}.</ref>

<ref name=coop>Ian Coop ([n.d.]). [https://web.archive.org/web/20070218014619/http://coopworth.org.nz/Origins_detail.html Foundation of the Coopworth Breed]. Coopworth Sheep Society of New Zealand. Archived 18 February 2007.</ref>

<ref name=dave>David Cottle (2010). ''International Sheep and Wool Handbook''. Nottingham: Nottingham University Press. {{isbn|9781904761860}}.</ref>

<ref name=dad>[https://fao-dadis-breed-detail.firebaseapp.com/?country=NZL&specie=Sheep&breed=Coopworth Breed data sheet: Coopworth / New Zealand (Sheep)]. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed June 2021.</ref>
}}

== Further reading ==

{{refbegin}}
* [[Vern Clark (animal scientist)|V. R. Clark]] (1994). Evolution and establishment of the Coopworth breed 1950–1991. In: George H. Davis (editor) (1994). ''Lab Coats to Gumboots''. New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Occasional Publication No. 13. 1994: 107–133.
* George H. Davis, Ken G. Dodds, Roger Wheeler, Nigel P. Jay (2001). [https://academic.oup.com/biolreprod/article/64/1/216/2723548 Evidence That an Imprinted Gene on the X Chromosome Increases Ovulation Rate in Sheep]. ''Biology of Reproduction''. '''64''' (1): 216–221. {{doi|10.1095/biolreprod64.1.216}}.
{{refend}}

{{Sheep breeds of Australia and New Zealand}}

[[Category:Sheep breeds originating in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Sheep breeds]]