Maternal and genetic influences on follicle and fleece development in Lincoln and Welsh Mountain sheep—a study involving egg transfer

1965 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 333-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Wiener ◽  
J. Slee
Keyword(s):  
Post Partum ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Fibre Length ◽  
Maternal Environment ◽  
Maternal Influences ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Secondary Follicle ◽  
Specific Effects ◽  
Fibre Growth ◽  
General Average

SUMMARYBy mean of egg transfer, lambs of a large breed of sheep (Lincoln) were born out of dams of a small breed (Welsh Mountain) and vice versa. One breed was approximately twice the weight of the other. The effects of this contrast in maternal environment upon the development of the wool follicles and upon subsequent wool production are described in this paper. These effects are compared with differences between singles and twins.Data were obtained from skin and wool samples taken at birth and at 84 days post-partum.Genetic differences were the largest single source of variation for most of the component characters of the skin and fleece.Strong maternal influences were in evidence. These were shown to have affected both Lincoln and Welsh lambs in a general (average) way and also to have had different, specific effects on each genotype as shown by genotype-environment interactions. Differences in maternal environment following egg transfer, clearly affected follicle density, primary/secondary follicle ratio, fibre medullation, fibre diameter and fibre length. Wool production was not affected, apparently because reduced follicle density was associated with increased fibre length.In the comparison between singles and twins the latter appeared to suffer a post-natal rather than a pre-natal restriction of secondary follicle development, and in the absence of extra fibre growth there was reduced wool production at 84 days.

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.

scholarly journals Performance of crossbreds of Polish Merino dams with F1 rams: Finnsheep X Polish Merino. A. Semi-intensive fattening of ram-lambs up to 40—45 kg

1988 ◽  
Vol 60 (6) ◽  
pp. 540-545
Author(s):  
M. Osikowski ◽  
B. Borys ◽  
M. A. Osikowski
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Body Weight Gain ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Fibre Length ◽  
Carcass Quality ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Ram Lambs ◽  
Fleece Weight

The investigations were carried out to evaluate fattening ability, carcass quality and wool production of semi-intensively fattened ram lambs the progeny of F1 rams: Finnsheep (F) x Polish Merino (PM) mated to PM ewes. Two experiments were performed, on a total of 73 crossbreds and 73 purebred PM lambs. The lambs were housed together in a shed and fed farm-produced roughages, supplemented by commercially available concentrates. The crossbred lambs under semi-intensive feeding were found to have similar fattening ability as the purebreds: daily gains F x PM x PM 196 g and PM 191 g, energy consumption per 1 kg of body weight gain 26.1 and 27.0MJ, respectively. Crossbreeding did not affect slaughter value, but the commercial evaluation of live lambs was poorer in the crossbred groups. The tested crossbreds had generally better wool performance: their clean fleece weight was 1.09 kg, while that of the purebreds was 0.98 kg, rendement respectively 59.3 and 53.0 %, fibre length 6.7 and 5.4 cm, while fibre diameter was similar in the both groups.

The effect of nutrition on fibre growth in the alpaca

1997 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 509-512 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. F. Russel ◽  
H. L. Redden
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Adult Male ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Fibre Length ◽  
Weight Yield ◽  
Fibre Growth ◽  
Maintenance Requirements

AbstractTwelve adult male alpacas were given either 0·67 (low) or 2·0 (high) × assumed maintenance requirements for a period of 6 weeks after which time each was transferred to the alternative level of nutrition for a further 6 weeks. Fibre samples were taken from two 10-cm2 areas on the mid-side position of each animal at 2, 6, 8 and 12 weeks, and measurements of fibre weight, yield (clean fibre weight/raw fibre weight), fibre diameter and fibre length made on the samples collected at weeks 6 and 12. The higher level of feeding resulted in higher clean fibre weight (low = 0·42 (s.e. 0·03); high = 0·53 (s.e. 0·04)mg/cm2 per day, P < 0·001) and fibre growth rate (low = 186 (s.e. 10); high = 223 (s.e. 14) yon/day, P < 0·05). Changes in yield (low = 0·917 (s.e. 0·006); high = 0·929 (s.e. 0·009)) and mean fibre diameter (low = 31·4 (s.e. 1·9); high = 32·1 (s.e. 1.6) \xm) were not statistically significant. Calculations showed that the increased weight of fibre attributed to the higher level of nutrition could be explained in terms of the observed increases in fibre-length and diameter but that, unlike the sheep in which the ratio fibre length: diameter remains relatively constant under varying nutritional regimes, the effect of nutrition in the alpaca has a proportionally larger effect on fibre length than on fibre diameter.

Follicle productivity and wool production in Romney ewes

1962 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 924 ◽  
Author(s):  
DA Ross
Keyword(s):  
Linear Relationship ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Fibre Length ◽  
Spatial Relationship ◽  
Length Change ◽  
Fibre Volume ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Absolute Length ◽  
Relationship Of

Fibre diameter and fibre length arrays of monthly samples of 10 mature Romney ewes were each subdivided into seven groups such that group 1 contained the coarsest or longest 15% of fibres and group 7 the finest or shortest 15% of fibres. A study was made of the relation between the characteristics of these seven groups and the level of wool production over a period of 18 months.There was a linear relationship of the form y = a + bx between fibre cross-sectional area d², fibre length per day l , or fibre volume per day d²l (y), and the level of wool production (a), at each of the seven levels within the array. A similar linear relationship held between the change in d², l , or d²l associated with a change in the level of wool production and the corresponding value of d², l, or d²l on which this change was based. In three of the 10 ewes the change in fibre length associated with a change in wool production was constant over the array; in the other ewes the absolute length change increased in the faster-growing fibres. In all ewes the percentage change in d², l , or d²l decreased with increasing fibre size. In four of the five ewes whose wool was free from medullation the change in fibre volume per unit area of fibre cross section associated with a change in the level of wool production was a constant over the array. Some aspects of follicle efficiency and follicle competition are discussed. It is concluded that in mature ewes all follicles have the same "efficiencies" and do not compete for fibre substrate. The spatial relationship of the follicles did not, affect wool production. The concept of a "basic pattern" of wool production is introduced and discussed.

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.

Effect of egg transfer on the skin follicles and birthcoats of Finnish Landrace and Soay lambs

1974 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marca Burns ◽  
M. L. Ryder
Keyword(s):  
Fibre Type ◽  
Opposite Effect ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Follicle Development ◽  
Direct Effects ◽  
Hair Density ◽  
Maternal Environment ◽  
Secondary Follicle ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Skin Samples

SummaryThe birthcoats of Finnish Landrace lambs showed a wide range of halo-hair grades but all had strongly checked fibre type arrays, which were either Plain or Valley. Transfer to Welsh Mountain dams reduced the effect of prenatal check, giving fewer sickle fibres and increased halo-hair and/or super sickle A percentage. Transfer to Border Leicester tended to have the opposite effect. Fibre diameter measurements made on skin samples indicated an increase in primary fibre diameter in transfers into Welsh dams, but no difference in transfers into the Border Leicester.All Soay samples had Grade VII halo-hair density and Plateau or Saddle arrays. Transfer of Soay eggs to Finnish Landrace ewes increased the percentage of sickle fibres mainly at the expense of hairy-tip curly-tips. Skin samples from the transferred Soays indicated reduced primary fibre medullation, and evidence of retarded secondary follicle development.Thus in both breeds the birthcoat changed slightly in the direction of that of the foster-dam. There was, however, no indication that increased prenatal check was associated with increased foetal size. It is therefore concluded that changes in birthcoat as a result of egg transfer are more probably due to direct effects of the maternal environment than to the effect of foetal size as previously postulated.

Skin characteristics and skin protein composition of Merinos differing in estimated breeding values for wool growth and fed at above and below maintenance

2006 ◽  
Vol 46 (7) ◽  
pp. 937 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Li ◽  
I. Godwin ◽  
S. M. Liu ◽  
V. H. Oddy ◽  
J. V. Nolan
Keyword(s):  
Protein Content ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Fibre Length ◽  
Skin Thickness ◽  
Feeding Level ◽  
Secondary Follicle ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Skin Protein ◽  
Estimated Breeding Values ◽  
True Protein

Twenty castrated male sheep were selected from a commercial flock, 10 with high estimated breeding values (EBVs) (F+) and 10 with low EBVs for wool production (F–). Five of each EBV treatment were offered feed at 0.8M [0.8 times their metabolisable energy (ME) requirement for maintenance] and the other 5 were offered feed at 1.8M for 6 weeks. On the midside area of skin, the F+ group had a greater rate of clean wool growth (g/100cm2.day) and daily growth in fibre length (mm/day) than the F– group at both feeding levels (P<0.05). Fibre diameter (FD) was finer for F+ than F– sheep at both feeding levels (P<0.001). As the feeding level increased, FD increased (P<0.001), but the ratio of fibre length growth to mean FD remained constant. The secondary follicle density in F+ sheep decreased with an increase in the feeding level (P<0.01), whereas the secondary follicle density of F– sheep remained unchanged (P>0.05). The ratio of secondary to primary follicles (S/P) was 21% higher (P<0.01) in skin from F+ sheep than in skin from F– sheep, but this difference was not related to the feeding level. Skin thickness at the midside was thinner (P<0.05) when sheep were underfed, but F+ sheep had a thicker (P<0.05) skin than F– sheep. The trephine (diameter: 1.5 cm; area: 1.766  cm2)-sampled skin weight was heavier for F+ than for F– (0.339 v. 0.294 g, P<0.05) but did not differ (P>0.05) with the level of intake. The weight of the dermis layer was greater in F+ than F– sheep (0.231 v. 0.190 g per trephine, P<0.05) and F+ sheep also tended to be more responsive to feeding level than F– sheep (interaction: P = 0.06). True protein content per 100 g wet skin did not differ between F+ and F– sheep or between feeding levels, whereas the protein content per 100 cm2 skin was significantly (P<0.05) higher in F+ sheep. The concentration of collagen in skin protein (g/100 g) was lower in F+ sheep than F– sheep at both feeding levels (P<0.05). Of the amino acids evaluated, significant differences occurred between F+ and F– sheep for the methionine (Met) concentration in plasma (P<0.05) and in the free amino acid pool in the skin (P = 0.06). The distribution ratio of skin Met concentration to plasma Met concentration was significantly lower in the F+ sheep than F– sheep (0.77 v.1.18 kg skin/ L plasma). Results presented here indicate that skin characteristics such as skin thickness, follicle density, S/P ratio, skin weight, dermis weight, true protein or collagen content were a consequence of genetics and nutritional variation in wool growth rate, fibre length and fibre diameter. Selection for high EBVs for wool growth has resulted in animals which grow more wool at the 2 levels of feed intake provided, supported by their higher S/P ratios, higher skin and protein masses, more responsive dermides and higher efficiency of Met usage in skin tissue.

The effect of breed type and inbreeding on characteristics of the fleece and skin of 12-week-old lambs

1981 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Woolliams ◽  
G. Wiener
Keyword(s):  
Density Ratio ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Fibre Length ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Primary Follicle ◽  
Secondary Follicle ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Breed Type ◽  
Mean And Variance ◽  
Secondary Fibre

ABSTRACTSheep of three pure breeds, the Scottish Blackface, South Country Cheviot and Welsh Mountain, and the crosses among these breeds, were inbred mostly by younger-parent offspring matings for three generations. Observations on lambs at 12 weeks of age were weight of fleece per unit area of skin, mean and variance of fibre length, both primary and secondary follicle density, and fibre diameter. The observations were analysed for the effects of inbreeding of the lamb and its dam, breed type, parity, and the sex and birth type of the lamb. Variation in the traits was also analysed for their relationship to lamb's live weight.Secondary follicle density and the density ratio (Ns/Np) decreased with inbreeding of the lamb. Primary follicle density increased whilst secondary fibre diameter and mean fibre length decreased with inbreeding of the dam. The effects of inbreeding on the density ratio and on secondary fibre diameter were correlated with inbreeding effects on the lamb's 12-week live weight. For other traits inbreeding did not have a clear-cut effect. Heterosis observed in F2 lambs was in general greater than that previously recorded for F1. For mean fibre length and mean fibre diameter the comparison of the crossbred deviations from mid-parent of the F2 and inbred lambs suggested epistatic interactions were involved. The effect of inbreeding crossbreds and inbreeding purebreds was different for secondary follicle density and primary fibre diameter, the two traits most clearly exhibiting heterosis in the F2. Lambs from first parity ewes had finer primary fibres and lighter fleece samples than had lambs from later parities.

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

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