Selenium supplementation increases wool growth and reduces faecal egg counts of Merino weaners in a selenium-deficient area

2010 ◽  
Vol 50 (7) ◽  
pp. 688 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pietro Celi ◽  
Jeff Eppleston ◽  
Annabel Armstrong ◽  
Bruce Watt
Keyword(s):  
Parasitic Infection ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Selenium Supplementation ◽  
Ctrl Group ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Faecal Egg Counts ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Fleece Weight ◽  
Deficient Area

This paper reports on the effects of selenium supplementation on liveweight (LW), greasy fleece weight (GFW), fibre diameter (FD), impact of parasite infection and plasma glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in weaned Merino sheep reared in a selenium-deficient area (blood GSH-Px <40 U/g Hb). At weaning, 208 Merino wethers were assigned to two groups: control (CTRL) and treatment (SEL). The SEL group was injected with 0.5 mL of Deposel, a slow release selenium injection. LW, blood and faecal samples were taken at 6-week intervals over a 24-week period. At the end of the trial the animals were shorn and GFW and FD measurements were taken. The SEL group had significantly higher (P < 0.01) LW compared with the CTRL group at Weeks 6, 12, 18 and 24. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in GFW between the SEL and CTRL group, 2.93 and 2.75 kg, respectively. There was no difference in FD between the two groups. A trend (P < 0.06) towards lower faecal egg counts in the SEL group was seen but the difference between the two groups was not significant. As expected, the SEL group had significantly (P < 0.001) higher plasma GSH-Px activity compared with the CTRL group. In conclusion, selenium supplementation in weaned Merino sheep reared in a selenium-deficient area could increase the LW and GFW of the young sheep while perhaps reducing the level of parasitic infection.

Corrigendum - Response to partial selection on clean fleece weight in South Australian strong-wool Merino sheep

1969 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 151
Author(s):  
O Mayo ◽  
JC Potter ◽  
RE Brady ◽  
CW Hooper
Keyword(s):  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Index Method ◽  
Visual Method ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Index Group ◽  
Agricultural College ◽  
Selection For ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Fleece Weight ◽  
Selection Of

This paper reports the results of an experiment carried out at Roseworthy Agricultural College from 1953 to 1966 comparing two bases of selection of rams: (1) visual appraisal (the "visual" method); (2) visual culling of 70% of rams followed by selection of breeding animals from the remaining 30% on the basis of clean fleece weight (the "index" method). No selection for fleece weight was practiced on ewes. Seven rams were used in each of the two flocks, and six of the seven were replaced each year by 16-month-old animals from the succeeding drop, the seventh being a year older. Rams used for breeding in the Index flock were significantly higher in clean fleece weight than those of the Visual flock, and were higher, though not always significantly so, in greasy fleece weight. This led to a divergence between the flocks for clean fleece weight (P < 0.05), with an increase of c. 0.05 lb per year per head for the Index animals over the Visual animals. The Index rams were more wrinkly and lighter, on the whole, than the Visual rams, and the wrinkly effect carried over into their offspring with a slight divergence apparent, the Index animals becoming more wrinkled than the Visual (P < 0.05). In fibre diameter there were no differences between selected animals or between flocks. Visual rams tended to have more crimps per inch in their wool, and this was observed in the flocks also, but the divergence was not significant (P > 0.05). Index rams had longer wool than Visual rams, with the difference generally significant within years, and this tendency carried over in a lesser manner to the flocks. Fleece density was generally greater in the Index group, though not usually significantly so. This experiment did not include a randomly bred control flock, but was rather designed to compare two practical methods of selecting rams. Merits of this scheme are discussed in the light of both groups' failure to show increases in fleece weight over the course of the experiment

Response to partial selection on clean fleece weight in South Australian strong-wool Merino sheep

1969 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 151
Author(s):  
O Mayo ◽  
JC Potter ◽  
RE Brady ◽  
CW Hooper
Keyword(s):  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Index Method ◽  
Visual Method ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Index Group ◽  
Agricultural College ◽  
Selection For ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Fleece Weight ◽  
Selection Of

This paper reports the results of an experiment carried out at Roseworthy Agricultural College from 1953 to 1966 comparing two bases of selection of rams: (1) visual appraisal (the "visual" method); (2) visual culling of 70% of rams followed by selection of breeding animals from the remaining 30% on the basis of clean fleece weight (the "index" method). No selection for fleece weight was practiced on ewes. Seven rams were used in each of the two flocks, and six of the seven were replaced each year by 16-month-old animals from the succeeding drop, the seventh being a year older. Rams used for breeding in the Index flock were significantly higher in clean fleece weight than those of the Visual flock, and were higher, though not always significantly so, in greasy fleece weight. This led to a divergence between the flocks for clean fleece weight (P < 0.05), with an increase of c. 0.05 lb per year per head for the Index animals over the Visual animals. The Index rams were more wrinkly and lighter, on the whole, than the Visual rams, and the wrinkly effect carried over into their offspring with a slight divergence apparent, the Index animals becoming more wrinkled than the Visual (P < 0.05). In fibre diameter there were no differences between selected animals or between flocks. Visual rams tended to have more crimps per inch in their wool, and this was observed in the flocks also, but the divergence was not significant (P > 0.05). Index rams had longer wool than Visual rams, with the difference generally significant within years, and this tendency carried over in a lesser manner to the flocks. Fleece density was generally greater in the Index group, though not usually significantly so. This experiment did not include a randomly bred control flock, but was rather designed to compare two practical methods of selecting rams. Merits of this scheme are discussed in the light of both groups' failure to show increases in fleece weight over the course of the experiment

Wool and liveweight responses to nutrition by Merino sheep genetically selected for high or low staple strength

1997 ◽  
Vol 48 (8) ◽  
pp. 1129 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. R. Adams ◽  
J. R. Briegel ◽  
A. J. M. Ritchie
Keyword(s):  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Rate Of Change ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Low Protein ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Good Nutrition ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Staple Strength ◽  
Fleece Weight ◽  
Protein Diets

The biological mechanisms underlying differences in wool staple strength were examined in 2 groups of Merino sheep that have been genetically selected for high or low staple strength, while holding fibre diameter constant. The sheep were fed below maintenance for 87 days, and then re-fed ad libitum for 63 days with a diet containing either 9% or 23% crude protein, in a cross-over design, after which they returned to the paddock until shearing. The fleeces of the 2 groups differed in staple strength (25·2 v.17·5 N/ktex, P < 0·001) but were similar in mean fibre diameter and clean fleece weight. However, the pattern of wool growth was different. When fed below maintenance, sheep from the sound group grew more wool than sheep from the tender group (P < 0·05), but lost more liveweight (P < 0·01). During re-feeding, the sound sheep grew less wool than the tender sheep (P < 0·05), but gained more liveweight. The mean fibre diameter at the point of break was similar in both groups. Immediately after re-feeding, the fibre diameter increased more rapidly in the tender group than in the sound (P < 0·001), but a similar difference was observed between the high and low protein diets, with no effect on staple strength. The sound sheep had a lower standard deviation of fibre diameter than the tender sheep (P < 0·001), both in the whole fleece and in 3-weekly midside patches. The data indicated that the variability of fibre diameter between fibres made a larger contribution than the variability along fibres to the difference between the groups in overall variability of fibre diameter. The sheep were then grazed together at pasture for a second year and again differed in staple strength. In addition, the sound sheep grew less wool on green spring pastures and had a lower clean fleece weight (P < 0·05). The differences in wool growth rates between sheep from the sound and tender lines depended more on whether pasture was green than on the amount of pasture available. We conclude that the difference in staple strength between the sound and tender groups was most closely associated with the variability between fibres in diameter, and was also affected by a difference in variation in diameter along the fibres. Staple strength was not affected by the amount of wool at the point of break, or by the rate of change in fibre diameter after feeding. The sheep in the sound group grew less wool than those in the tender group when on good nutrition.

Genetic variances for liveweight and fleece traits in Merino, Dohne Merino and South African Meat Merino sheep

2001 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 145 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. W. P. Cloete ◽  
S. J. Schoeman ◽  
J. Coetzee ◽  
J. de V. Morris
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Phenotypic Variance ◽  
Total Phenotypic Variance ◽  
Weaning Weight ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Genetic Variances ◽  
Variance Ratios ◽  
Fleece Weight ◽  
Variance Estimates

(Co)variance estimates for weaning weight, yearling liveweight, clean fleece weight and fibre diameter at yearling age were obtained for Merino, Dohne Merino and South African Meat Merino flocks maintained on the same property. Direct additive genetic variances for weaning weight [expressed as a ratio of the total phenotypic variance (h2, direct heritability)] were estimated at 0.15 for Merinos, 0.21 for Dohne Merinos and 0.32 for South African Meat Merinos. Corresponding maternal variance ratios (m2, including direct maternal variance and permanent environmental maternal variance) were estimated at 0.15, 0.30 and 0.24, respectively. The correlation between direct and maternal variance ratios was high and negative in Dohne Merinos and South African Meat Merinos (–0.72 and –0.53, respectively). Direct heritability estimates for yearling liveweight were 0.30 for Merinos, 0.33 for Dohne Merinos and 0.45 for South African Meat Merinos. Corresponding maternal variance ratios were only significant in the latter 2 breeds, amounting to 0.13 in Dohne Merinos and 0.12 in South African Meat Merinos. For yearling clean fleece weight, h2 and m2 were estimated at 0.28 and 0.12, respectively, for both Merinos and Dohne Merinos. In the case of South African Meat Merinos, only the h2 estimate was significant, at 0.68. Maternal variance ratios for yearling fibre diameter were not significant in any of the breeds, while h2 ranged from 0.58 in Merinos to 0.75 in South African Meat Merinos. Selection progress for yearling traits seems likely in all breeds, depending on the breeding objectives being strived for.

The influence of selection and plane of nutrition on the components of fleece weight in Merino sheep

1958 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 802 ◽  
Author(s):  
RB Dun
Keyword(s):  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Fibre Length ◽  
Small Contribution ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Single Character ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Fleece Weight ◽  
High Level

The components of clean fleece weight were examined in five experimental flocks of medium-wool Peppin Merinos. Four single-character selection groups – clean fleece weight plus, clean fleece weight minus, crimps per inch plus, and crimps per inch minus – were examined by measuring fleece production in 18-month-old ewe progeny. Measurements were also made on progeny from the "nucleus" flock, which was selected for clean fleece weight with subsidiary selection for crimps per inch and against fold score. Data were collected in 1952 and 1954. The 1954 figures were obtained from a nutrition experiment in which sheep mere grown from weaning to 18 months on a high and on a low plane of nutrition. The mean measurements of the components of clean fleece weight (W) were compared between flocks using the "percentage deviation" technique. Four comparisons were made: (1) Nucleus/Fleece minus; (2) Fleece plus/Fleece minus; (3) Crimps minus/Crimps plus; (4) high nutritional plane/low nutritional plane. In comparisons (1) , (2), and (3), difference in weight of wool per unit area of skin (w) accounted for nearly all the difference in W. Body weight (S) made a small contribution while difference in fold score (R) was negligible. Fibre density (N) accounted for +86 per cent., and fibre cross-sectional area (A) for –28 per cent., of the difference in W in comparison (1). In comparison (2) the figures were N +47 per cent., A +21 per cent., while the figures for comparison (3) were N –26 per cent., A +121 per cent. The increase in fleece weight was invariably accompanied by a decrease in crimps per inch. In all three comparisons primary density (P) was the major cause of change in N. Fibre length (L) made a uniform contribution of approximately +15 per cent. in the three comparisons.The relative importance of the components of fleece weight was similar at both high and low levels of nutrition.The effect of a high level of nutrition was to produce large increases in A, L, and S. The increase in S was compensated by an equal decrease in P. The increase in fibre diameter was not associated with any change in crimps per inch.

Effects of inbreeding on four families of Peppin Merinos

1957 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 299 ◽  
Author(s):  
JM Doney
Keyword(s):  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Genetic Effect ◽  
Direct Consequence ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Single Strain ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Fibre Number ◽  
Per Se ◽  
Fleece Weight ◽  
Australian Merino

The influence of inbreeding on several fleece and body characters in a strain of Australian Merino sheep is reported. The four families from which data were taken were derived from a single strain of Peppin Merinos. Inbreeding without selection has been carried on since the foundation of the families between 1939 and 1944. Inbreeding is responsible for a reduction in body size, fertility, greasy and clean fleece weight, and wrinkle score, but has relatively little influence on the fleece components (yield, staple length, fibre diameter, and density of fibre population). It follows that the reduction in fleece weight is a direct consequence of a decrease in total fibre number. Since the reduction in fibre number is likely to be a correlated effect of low pre-natal and early post-natal growth rates, it is suggested that the inbreeding has had no genetic effect on the several independent systems involved in adult wool production but has affected only those associated with fitness and vigour. The depression due to inbreeding therefore may not be caused by specific gene fixation but by increased homozygosity per se.

Genetic studies of South Australian Merino sheep. 2. Environmental effects on wool and body traits at 15-16 months of age

1981 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 657 ◽  
Author(s):  
IP Gregory ◽  
RW Ponzoni
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Surface Area ◽  
Multiple Birth ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Main Production ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Fleece Weight ◽  
Main Components ◽  
Australian Merino

The effects of years, sex, type of birth (i.e. whether or not multiple birth) and age of dam on 26 wool and body traits of South Australian Merino sheep were estimated by least-squares analysis. Years and sex had highly significant effects on all traits. Of the main production traits, type of birth had a significant effect on body weight, greasy and clean fleece weight and total wool follicle number, while age of dam only had a significant effect on body weight and greasy fleece weight. The possible consequences of failing to correct body weight and greasy and clean fleece weights for type of birth and age of dam were considered and it was concluded that, although in some years correction of these traits may not be warranted, in other years correction may be necessary to prevent selection against fecundity and an increase in the generation interval. The main components contributing to the 6.0 % difference between fleece weights of singles and twins were surface area, total follicle number and wrinkle score. The difference between fleece weights of animals from older ewes and animals from maidens was only 1.5 %; surface area was the main contributor to this deviation.

The long-term influence of superphosphate and stocking rate on the production of spring-lambing Merino sheep in the high rainfall zone of southern Australia

1999 ◽  
Vol 50 (7) ◽  
pp. 1179 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. W. D. Cayley ◽  
G. A. Kearney ◽  
G. R. Saul ◽  
C. L. Lescun
Keyword(s):  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
The Body ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Gross Margin ◽  
Single Superphosphate ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Predetermined Level ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Fleece Weight

The productivity of spring-lambing fine wool Merino sheep grazing pastures sown in 1977 to perennial ryegrass and subterranean clover was assessed from 1989 to 1998. The pastures were fertilised each autumn with single superphosphate at 6 levels, and were stocked at a low, medium, or high stocking rate (SR) at each level of fertiliser. The average phosphorus (P) applied annually since sowing (P ) ranged from 1.6 to 32.9 kg/ha. The SRs used varied with fertiliser level in that they were higher where more fertiliser had been applied, so that the highest SR at each level of fertiliser ensured that the pastures were well utilised. Each ewe raised 1 lamb, which was removed at weaning. The influence of fertiliser on the productivity of the sheep at 4 classes (1–4) of SR (mean SR = 7.1, 10.1, 12.6, and 18.2 ewes/ha for classes 1–4, respectively) was described by: y = A−BCP, where y represents production per sheep (kg), and A, B, and C are constants. For greasy fleece weight, estimates of B and C were 1.59 and 0.84; and for SR classes 1–4, the estimates of A were 5.06, 4.89, 4.78, and 4.46, respectively. For weaning weight of lambs, estimates of B and C were 8.4 and 0.82, and estimates of A were 23.5, 22.7, 21.5, and 20.9 for SR classes 1–4. The mean fibre diameter (µm) of the wool was described by: D = 14.18+1.48 GW, where GW is the mean greasy wool produced annually per sheep (kg) averaged over all sheep and years for each of the 18 treatments. The price (cents/kg) of wool with a fibre diameter D (P D) was given by: P D = 12197+4.94P2 + 688D−0.1945P20D − 5810√D, where 20 µm wool is P20 cents/kg. Supplements were fed if the body condition of ewes fell to a predetermined level. The supplement fed per ewe each year (S), expressed as metabolisable energy (in MJ) was described by: S = −602 − 44.1S R + 178.5P + 8.71S R P +539 √SR− 338.5√P−70.8P√SR, where S R and P represent the mean stocking rate (ewes/ha) and mean P applied annually. When a current set of costs and prices was applied to these equations, the maximum gross margin for a SR of 7.1 ewes/ha was $AU119/ha with 8.6 kg P/ha applied annually, and $AU262/ha for SR of 18.2 ewes/ha with 17.6 kg P/ha applied annually. If income derived from sheep is maintained constant, intensifying the sheep enterprise from the low to the high SR system would involve increasing sheep numbers by about 17%, but would release about 55% of the farm’s area for another purpose.

Effect of stocking rate on fleece measurements and their relationships in merino sheep

1976 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 163 ◽  
Author(s):  
DH White ◽  
BJ McConchie
Keyword(s):  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Major Determinant ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Rate Experiment ◽  
Fleece Weight ◽  
One Year ◽  
Staple Length

The wool characteristics of Merino wethers were measured for 6 years in a stocking rate experiment. The decline in fleece weight due to increasing stocking rate from 4.9 to 12.4 sheep per hectare was usually accompanied by a reduction in fibre diameter and staple length and an increase in staple crimp frequency. The magnitude of these responses differed considerably between years; in one year clean fleece weight was reduced by 50%, with an associated reduction of 5 µm in mean fibre diameter and one of 2 cm in staple length. In four of the six years of the experiment, variation in fibre diameter accounted for at least 50% of the variation in wool production between stocking rate treatments. The relationships between clean fleece weight and fibre diameter were similar between years, mean fibre diameter being reduced by about 1.8 �m for each kilogram reduction in clean fleece weight. Fibre diameter is the major determinant of wool price, and this information should improve the prediction of economic responses to changes in stocking rate.

A comparison of the topmaking performance of wool from sheep selected by index and visual methods

1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (8) ◽  
pp. 941 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. L. Vizard ◽  
K. A. Hansford
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Coefficient Of Variation ◽  
Selection Index ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Visual Assessment ◽  
Index Selection ◽  
Visual Methods ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Fleece Weight ◽  
Index Value

Summary. The topmaking performance of fleeces from sheep that were ranked high or low on index selection using objective measurement was compared with that of sheep from the same flock that were ranked high or low on visual assessment. A flock of 451 15-month-old fine-wool Merino sheep were classed by 2 experienced fine-wool sheep classers into 3 grades: best, average and culls. Forty-four sheep were assessed as ‘best’ and 77 sheep were graded as ‘culls’ by both classers. These sheep were defined as the ‘best visual’ and ‘worst visual’ sheep, respectively. Measurements of clean fleece weight, mean fibre diameter, coefficient of variation of fibre diameter and body weight were used in a selection index to rank all sheep in the flock. The selection index was designed to rapidly reduce mean fibre diameter and slowly increase clean fleece weight, whilst maintaining staple strength and body weight. The 44 sheep with the highest index value were defined as ‘best index’ sheep and the group of 77 sheep with the lowest index or obvious physical faults were defined as the ‘worst index’ sheep. Twenty-five fleeces were randomly selected from each of the ‘best’ and ‘worst visual’, ‘best’ and ‘worst index’ sheep for individual processing through to top. The fleeces from the ‘best index’ sheep produced greater quantities of tops that were significantly finer, longer, of lower curvature and produced less noil than all other groups. In contrast to the large difference in quality between tops from the ‘best’ and ‘worst index’ sheep, there was little difference in quality between tops from the ‘best’ and ‘worst visual’ sheep. This indicates that the traditional wool producer views of wool quality are unrelated to processing performance. It was concluded that Merino sheep selected by index selection using direct measurement of fleece weight, mean fibre diameter and coefficient of variation of diameter as selection criteria produced greater quantities of wool of superior processing performance to that from sheep selected using visual assessment.

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