The effect of birth status on the level and efficiency of wool production by new zealand corriedale two-tooth rams and ewes

1982 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 309-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. G. Butler
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Fibre Length ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Individual Values ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Diameter Fibre ◽  
Valid Comparison ◽  
Maintain Body Weight

ABSTRACTForty-four single- and twin-born New Zealand Corriedale two-tooth ewes and rams aged 14 months were fed individually, in pens, a pelleted ration adjusted to maintain body weight after allowing for wool growth. The sheep were fed for a 3-month settling period, followed by a 3-month experimental period, during which wool growth, fibre diameter, fibre length and net efficiency of wool growth were measured.Since the wool-growth cycles of the two sexes were found to be out of phase, a valid comparison of the sex data was not possible. Such phase differences may be important in some experimental designs. Significant sex by birth status interactions were identified for all wool production parameters except fibre length, confirming that care must be taken in assigning correction factors during selection of rams and ewes. The general trend was for single-born ewes to produce more and coarser wool more efficiently than twin-born ewes, while the differences between single- and twin-born rams were much smaller. Single-born animals were heavier than twin-born (P<0·01).Individual values for wool growth and net efficiency varied by a factor of three within sex groups, indicating a considerable scope for selection

The influence of protein quality on the effect of flavomycin on wool growth, liveweight change and rumen fermentation in sheep

1990 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 987 ◽  
Author(s):  
PJ Murray ◽  
JB Rowe ◽  
EM Aitchison
Keyword(s):  
Protein Quality ◽  
Rumen Fluid ◽  
Initial Period ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Feed Additive ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Wheat Chaff

The feed additive flavomycin, a glycolipid antibiotic, was evaluated for its potential to improve wool growth in sheep fed two pelleted diets: one based on lucerne chaff and lupin grain and the other on wheat chaff and fishmeal. Seventy-eight weaner ewes, approximately 20 months of age and mean weight of 32 kg (s.e. � 0.3), were placed in individual pens and fed the pelleted diets at a level equivalent to 3.5% of the mean liveweight of the group. The experiment consisted of an initial period (8 weeks) during which all animals received their respective diets with no flavomycin, followed by an experimental period (9 weeks) during which the animals received their diets with flavomycin. Flavomycin was included at three different rates (l0, 20 and 40 ppm) in both diets (nine sheep/level) during the experimental period and twelve sheep were fed each of the unmedicated diets (no flavomycin). Feed intakes were measured daily and animals weighed weekly. Wool growth was measured for the initial and experimental periods by clipping a mid-side patch of about 100 cm2. In sheep fed the lucernellupin based diet, flavomycin increased liveweight gain ( P < 0.05) at 20 ppm but had no effect on wool production, whereas in those fed the hay/fishmeal diet, there was a linear decrease in liveweight gain (P < 0.001) (161, 151, 142, 130 g day-1) and a dose related increase in clean wool production (P<0.01) (12.9, 14.5, 15.2, 15.3 g m-2 day-1) with increasing rates of flavomycin (0, 10, 20, 40 ppm respectively). There was no significant effect of flavomycin on fibre diameter in the sheep fed either diet. The inclusion of flavomycin in both diets significantly increased the molar proportions of propionate in the rumen fluid and in sheep on the hay/fishmeal pellet it reduced the concentration of rumen ammonia. The time animals took to eat their ration was increased with the inclusion of flavomycin in the hay/fishmeal diet.

The effect of previous and current nutrition on wool production in southern Victoria

1962 ◽  
Vol 2 (6) ◽  
pp. 160 ◽  
Author(s):  
MJ Sharkey ◽  
IF Davis ◽  
PA Kenney
Keyword(s):  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Fibre Length ◽  
Initial Increase ◽  
Nutritional Treatment ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Short Period ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Fleece Weight ◽  
Autumn And Winter

The effect of different planes of nutrition on the wool production of Corriedale wethers at pasture was studied between August 1959 and December 1960. The plane of nutrition was controlled by rate of stocking. The effect of previous nutritional treatment on wool production was slight. It affected wool weight and fibre length for 160 one month and fibre diameter for two months. The differences in current nutritional treatment were accompanied by large differences in wool production except during the spring months. On the highest plane of nutrition the wool production showed little seasonal variation, apart from an initial increase in production during the autumn. On the medium and low planes of nutrition wool growth declined substantially in autumn and winter and increased again in spring. The mean fibre diameter of the wool that was clipped frequently was greater than that of fleece wool obtained from the opposite midside at shearing. Further, in the groups on medium and low planes of nutrition estimates of fleece weight based on the combined weight of periodical clippings were greater than actual fleece weights. It is concluded that, in the dry Victorian summer, wool production is influenced by the plane of nutrition in the previous spring for a short period only, and that in autumn and winter it is dependant almost entirely on the feed immediately available.

Stimulation of wool growth by thyroxine implantation. I. Liveweight changes and wool growth of fine-wool Merino wethers

1964 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 657 ◽  
Author(s):  
LJ Lambourne
Keyword(s):  
Dose Rate ◽  
Fibre Length ◽  
Dual Purpose ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Body Tissues ◽  
Four Seasons ◽  
Lower Body Weight ◽  
Native Pastures ◽  
Fleece Weight

Groups of 20 and 30 fine-wool Merino wethers were treated with L-thyroxine and their subsequent liveweight changes and wool production studied under a variety of grazing conditions for a year. Treatments comprised : (1) Single implantations of 60 mg in autumn, winter, spring, or summer. (2) Repeated implantations at all four seasons of 30, 60, or 90 mg. (3) Weekly subcutaneous injection of 7 mg in aqueous solution. These groups were grazed with untreated wethers on improved native pastures at one to two sheep per acre. (4) Repeated 60 mg implantations at four seasons in wethers grazed on native pasture providing a lower level of nutrition. (5) Repeated 60 mg implantations at four seasons in wethers grazed on sown pasture providing a higher level of nutrition. After every implantation there was a loss of 5–10 lb liveweight — more pronounced and more prolonged in the wethers given greater amounts of thyroxine, and more prolonged in those at lower levels of nutrition. Deaths occurred in several groups, increasing with dose rate or with poorer nutrition up to 30–50% of the group. Wool growth was not increased significantly by repeated 60 mg implants at the lowest level of nutrition, nor by the single 60 mg implant in late spring. Increases of 34% in annual fleece weight resulted from 60 mg implants in autumn and summer. Repeated implantation of 30, 60, and 90 mg in groups on a medium or high plane of nutrition increased annual fleece weight by 8, 14, and 19%, and 7 mg injected weekly by 11%. Increases in fleece weight were due partly to increased fibre length, and partly to an increase in grease and suint which reduced the clean scoured yield by 1–2%. It is concluded that line-wool Merinos, despite their lower body weight and greater specialization for wool production, react to thyroxine treatment in the same way as has been established for "dual-purpose" sheep. The safe maximum dose rate is critically dependent on the current level of nutrition, particularly for young sheep. Repeated implantations without adequate opportunity for recovery of catabolized body tissues may produce no increase in wool growth and may cause death.

Effect of time of joining and rate of stocking on the production of Corriedale ewes in southern Victoria. 3. Wool growth and the composition and availability of pasture

1975 ◽  
Vol 15 (73) ◽  
pp. 159 ◽  
Author(s):  
PA Kenney ◽  
IF Davis
Keyword(s):  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
The Other ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Brome Grass ◽  
Stocking Rates

A study was made during a three year period (1 968-1 970) of wool production by a flock of 540 ewes grazing annual pasture at Werribee, Victoria. The ewes were stocked at three rates (5, 7 1/2 and 10 ewes ha-1) and lambed between July 6 and August 20 or between September 10 and October 29 each year. Fibre diameter and length of wool samples were measured in 1968, 1969 and 1970 ; in 1970 growth of greasy wool was calculated from staples of dye-banded wool. Wool growth was reduced in all ewes during late pregnancy and early lactation but was not affected during late lactation in ewes lambing in September. The proportion of tender fleeces from all ewes was greater in 1970 and the weight of fleeces from only those ewes bearing single lambs was less in all years for ewes lambing in July than for ewes lambing in September. More ewes were barren and fewer ewes had twins in July and consequently the mean fleece weights of all ewes from both groups were similar. Fleeces from ewes stocked at 10 ha-1 were lighter, shorter and finer than fleeces from ewes stocked at 5 and 7 1/2 ha-1, but the proportion of tender fleeces did not differ between the groups. Wool production of ewes stocked at 5 and 7 1/2 ha-1 increased from 1968 to 1970, whereas that of ewes at 10 ha-1 did not. This was associated with differences in pasture availability and composition. At 10 ewes ha-1 less pasture was present in winter and spring in 1970 than in 1968, whereas at the other stocking rates it was greater. In 1970 the density of weeds in autumn was greater and in spring more silver grass (Vulpia spp.) and less brome grass (Bromus spp.) was available at the high stocking rate.

Effects of defaunation of the rumen and supplementation with amino acids on the wool production of housed Saxon Merinos. 2. Methionine and protected methionine

1988 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 179 ◽  
Author(s):  
DJ Cottle
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Previous Trial ◽  
Growth Responses ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Low Protein ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Protein Diets ◽  
Ciliate Protozoa

In experiment 1, 6 groups, each of 10 superfine Merino wethers, were individually penned indoors and hand-fed oats, wheat straw and whole lupins, either alone or with 2 g/day of DL-methionine or 6.6 g/day of fatty acid coated methionine (Ketionin) for 23 weeks. Following shearing the 6 groups were hand-fed lucerne-chopped hay in experiment 2 either alone or with hydroxymethyl-methionine (Mepron) or Ketionin for 23 weeks. In both experiments the rations were fed at maintenance level and were offered 3 times a week. Half of the sheep had no rumen ciliate protozoa following treatment in a previous trial. In experiment 1, defaunated sheep produced an additional 6.5%clean wool on the supplemented oats plus lupins rations. Inclusion of Ketionin in the ration of defaunated sheep resulted in an 11% increase in clean wool growth, without affecting wool quality. In experiment 2 defaunated sheep produced an additional 6% clean wool on the lucerne-chopped hay ration. No responses to defaunation occurred on the supplemented rations. Inclusion of both forms of protected methionine in the ration (providing 2 g methionine/sheep.day) resulted in 23% and 13% higher clean wool production in the faunated and defaunated sheep respectively. Fibre diameter of wool was increased by 0.7 pm in sheep receiving Mepron and 0-5 pm in sheep receiving Ketionin. The wool grown by suppiemented sheep remained suitable for the 'Sharlea' trade (< 17.5 �m). It is concluded that wool growth responds more to defaunation on high energy-low protein diets. Wool growth responses to supplementation with protected methionine were greater on 100% roughage diets than on high grain diets. Further study is needed before an optimal ration for superfine wool production is formulated.

Anatomy of Acacia Mangium Grown in Malaysia

IAWA Journal ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 245-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohd. Hamami Sahri ◽  
Faridah Hanum Ibrahim ◽  
Nor Aini Ab. Shukor
Keyword(s):  
Age Groups ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Fibre Length ◽  
Acacia Mangium ◽  
Tropical Species ◽  
Average Percentage ◽  
Plantation Forests ◽  
Diameter Fibre ◽  
Average Fibre ◽  
Two Age Groups

A study on the tissue proportions and fibre dimensions of plantation-grown Acacia mangium was carried out. Ten selected trees from two age groups (4- and 8-year-old) were obtained from plantation forests in Selangor. Disks were taken from four sampling heights. Acacia mangium wood is diffuse-porous with mostly solitary vessels. The rays are uniseriate. The average percentage of fibres, vessels and rays of 4-year-old and 8-year-old samples are 85.8%, 9.1%, 5.2% and 84.8%, 9.8%, 5.3%, respectively. Acacia is a shortfibred tropical species. The average fibre length, fibre diameter, fibre lumen diameter and fibre wall thickness are 934, 24, 17 and 3.3 µm for 4-year-old samples and 1017,20, 12 and 4.3 µm for 8-year-old sampies, respectively. The sampies near the pith have the shortest fibres and the length increases toward the bark. Fibre length also tends to decrease with height. The vessel percentage decreases with increasing height.

Production and quality of cashmere grown by adult wether goats fed low quality forage with supplements of either whole barley or lupin grain.

2000 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 795 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. A. McGregor ◽  
M. Z. Umar
Keyword(s):  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Fibre Length ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Barley Grain ◽  
Practical Application ◽  
Whole Grain ◽  
Summer Pasture ◽  
Cashmere Goats

The effects of the provision of cereal (barley) and legume (lupin) grain supplements when 50 adult wether cashmere goats were individually penned and fed on senescent temperate summer pasture (DDM 46.9%, N 0.67%, ME 6.2 MJ/kg DM) were investigated using a factorial experiment. The goats grazed senescent temperate pasture during summer before pen feeding for 9 weeks and were then grazed on germinating autumn pastures for 3 months until shorn in mid June. The production and quality of cashmere was affected by: (i) provision of whole grain supplements, (ii) type of supplementary grain fed, and (iii) level of feeding of supplementary grain. Unsupplemented goats grew 95 g cashmere with mean fibre diameter 17.01 m and mean cashmere fibre length 52 mm. During the period of pen feeding unsupplemented goats lost 95 g liveweight/day. Provision of whole grain supplements significantly increased total yearly cashmere growth to 179 g (+88%) which was 26 mm longer (50%) and 2.12 m coarser (26%) than cashmere grown by unsupplemented goats. Increasing the level of supplementary grain resulted in linear increases in feed intake, cashmere growth, fibre diameter and length. For each 100 g/day of lupin or barley grain fed during the pen-feeding period the regression coefficients indicated an extra 33 g of cashmere was grown, which was 0.6 m coarser and for barley 10 mm longer and for lupins 17 mm longer. Cashmere (fibre length/fibre diameter2) ratio was increased by supplementary feeding, increased feed level and liveweight gain during the experimental period. Relatively longer cashmere was produced as the level of nutrition increased. It is clear that a base diet of senescent temperate pasture that is low in digestible nutrients and low in nitrogen results in suppressed cashmere growth. Strategic grain supplementation for at least 9 weeks during late summer and autumn has the potential to significantly increase cashmere production and cashmere fibre length when adult cashmere goats are grazing pastures deficient in digestible energy and nitrogen. However feeding high levels of lupin and barley grain to adult goats is contra indicated as cashmere mean fibre diameter may exceed market limits. The practical application of the results is discussed in light of previous research.

The use of thyroxine to reduce average fibre diameter in fleece wool when feed intake is increased

2001 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 611 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. J. Lee ◽  
K. J. Thornberry ◽  
A. J. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Saline Solution ◽  
Daily Intake ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Fibre Length ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Average Fibre Diameter ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Average Fibre ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
The Difference

An experiment was conducted to determine whether thyroxine injections would control the increases in fibre diameter when the wool growth of Merino wethers is stimulated by an increased supply of feed. Fifty-seven sheep were allocated to 1 of 5 levels of daily intake, ranging from 0.75 maintenance to ad libitum, and injected every third day with 3 mg of L-thyroxine or a saline solution (control). Sheep treated with thyroxine had elevated plasma tri-iodothyronine (T3) levels, which were highest in sheep fed the least (P<0.01). Ad libitum intakes of sheep treated with thyroxine tended to be higher than that of control sheep, particularly in the fifth to seventh weeks of the experiment, and liveweight gain over the initial 4 weeks was significantly (P<0.001) less. Wool growth was increased by thyroxine treatment, although the difference was small in the second half of the experiment at the highest intake levels. Fibre diameter of sheep treated with thyroxine was greater at low intakes, although the difference diminished as intake increased. Fibre length in the second half of the experiment was positively related to intake, but there were no effects of thyroxine. Although the relationships of fibre diameter and length with wool growth did not differ between the treatment groups, length accounted for more of the variation in wool growth in the second half of the experiment in treated wethers than in control wethers (0.376 v. 0.182 of the variation, respectively). Thyroxine did not appreciably reduce the extent of the increase in fibre diameter associated with an increase in the availability and intake of feed.

Wool yield and characteristics of Dorset, Leicester and Sunffolk breeds and their ‘DLS’ cross

1977 ◽  
Vol 88 (3) ◽  
pp. 651-653 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. H. Fahmy ◽  
J. A. Vasely
Keyword(s):  
First Generation ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Fibre Length ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Average Fibre Diameter ◽  
Average Fibre ◽  
Wool Yield ◽  
Fleece Weight

SUMMARYGreasy fleece weight (12 months growth) and wool samples from hip and shoulder regions were taken on 15 Dorset, 20 Leicester, 20 Suffolk and 17 DLS ewes (a cross of ½ Dorset, ¼ Leicester, ¼ Suffolk obtained by mating DL rams to DS ewes and DS rams to DL ewes). The purpose of the study was to compare wool production and characteristics of the first generation of DLS with that of the three breeds of origin. Wool production of DLS was 3·58 kg, 8·8 and 14% higher than that of Suffolk and Dorset, but 11% lower than that of Leicester (P< 0·01). The percentage of clean wool was highest in Leicester (78·3%), followed by DLS, Dorset and Suffolk (76·1, 74·3 and 70·5%, respectively). The average fibre diameter of the DLS and Leicester was 38 /m, 4 /m thicker than that for Suffolk and Dorset (P < 0·01). Average fibre length was 15 cm in DLS and Dorset, 6 cm shorter than in Leicester, and 3 cm longer than in Suffolk (P < 0·01). The variability in fibre diameter and length was highest in Leicester, followed closely by DLS.

Seasonal variation in fibre diameter and length in wool of grazing Merino sheep with low or high staple strength

1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 507 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. C. Schlink ◽  
G. Mata ◽  
J. M. Lea ◽  
A. J. M. Ritchie
Keyword(s):  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Fibre Length ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Strength Group ◽  
Pooled Data ◽  
Length Growth ◽  
Fibre Growth ◽  
Staple Strength ◽  
Highly Correlated

The associations between fibre growth characteristics and wool staple strength were investigated in groups (n = 10) of Merino wethers with either low or high staple strength. Sheep grazed together on pastures based on subterranean clover and annual rye grass for about 13 months. The sheep were weighed and injected intradermally with [35 S]-cysteine at about 14-day intervals. Mid-side patches were harvested and dye bands placed in the wool at about 28-day intervals. Patch clean wool growth, pasture digestible dry matter/ha and pasture crude protein/ha had similar seasonal amplitudes of production (287, 286 and 267% of respective minimum). These were significantly higher than the seasonal amplitude in liveweight (24.5%). The seasonal amplitude in fibre diameter was significantly greater than that for rate of fibre elongation (71.4 and 41.4% respectively). This seasonality in fibre length and diameter resulted in statistically significant seasonal fluctuations in the ratio of fibre length growth to fibre diameter. Fortnightly variability in fibre diameter was not significantly related to variability in fibre length growth rate between sheep for individual time periods. However, for the pooled data over the experimental period a statistically significant relationship (R2 = 0.13, P<0.01) was improved with the addition of parameters for sampling time and staple strength group. Staple strengths for the low and high staple strength groups were 25.6 and 32.8 N/ktex respectively (P = 0.057). There were no significant differences between the staple strength groups in seasonal change in liveweight, wool production or fibre parameters measured in this study but the low staple strength group had longer fibres. Staple strength was most highly correlated with mid-side fibre diameter coefficient of variation (R2 = 0.50) followed by seasonal amplitude in liveweight.

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