A review on some factors affecting wool quality parameters of sheep

Wool is a natural fibre with a unique amalgamation of properties that are exploited in garment industry. The wool industry, in particular the production of fine wool, has a notable role in world trade and the price of the wool is dependent on quality. Accordingly, wool characteristics have direct impact on wool prices set by processors and industry. These properties can particularly benefit the wearer of the garment during exercise. There are different factors affecting wool quality parameters both with direct and indirect involvement. The environmental and genetics are the main factors affecting quality and quantity of wool from sheep. Infections related to skin and parasitic infestations have direct influence on the quality of wool. Breed or genotype is one of the main genetic factors that influences the product and productivity as well as quality of wool from sheep that is fleece from different sheep breeds is different in its both physical and chemical characteristics. Hormonal changes in relation to sex of sheep also have effect on the wool quality traits. The main objective of this review was to define and explore key wool characteristics, such as staple length, number of crimp, fibre type, fibre diameter, wool wax and scouring yield in regards to quality and interventions approaches for improving. In most of studies, non-genetic factors such as age, season, shearing period, shearing frequency and nutrition have a significant effect on traits viz. staple length, wool wax, scouring yield, fibre diameter and for other traits as well. Conducting a research on wool quality characteristics is an operative way of defining and differentiating the quality of wool. Acquiring knowledge of the wool quality characteristics can help to manage the end use products, consumers comfort and processing intensity. Therefore, an understanding of the factors affecting physical and chemical properties of wool traits is important to improve the quality of wool through genetics and management interventions. This article reviews some important quality attributes of wool for the product and productivity development and value addition.

PSXII-11 Parameters for yearling wool production, wool quality and liveweight traits in mutton-wool breed of sheep with a different kinship ratio

This study aimed to determine the effect of crossbreeding on wool production for sheep of different kinship ratios. Purebred (Volgograd) and crossbred (F3, Volgograd x ¼ North Caucasian) sheep were used. The birth liveweights (n = 100) of tups were similar (3.71 kg and 3.69 kg) whereas crossbred ewes were heavier than purebreds (3.45 kg vs 3.3 kg). At 2.5 months (n = 97), crossbred tups outweighed purebreds by 6.94% (22.17 kg and 20.73 kg (p ≤ 0.05); ewes’ liveweights were similar (19.98 kg and 19.88 kg). Crossbred tups’ weaning weights (n = 70) exceeded purebred tups by 20.85% (32.33 kg and 26.75kg, (p ≤ 0.01); crossbred ewes outweighed purebreds by 7.38% (27.20 kg and 25.33 kg). Crossbred tup yearlings (n = 67) outweighed purebreds (52.10 and 48.90 kg) (P ≤ 0.01) whereas ewe yearlings were similar (37.30 kg vs. 36.70 kg). However, fleece weights (n = 30) of crossbred tups were heavier than of purebreds. Greasy fleece weight of crossbred tups was 6.72 kg and 6.14 kg (P ≤ 0.05). Clean fleece weight of crossbred tups outweighed purebred by 13.73% (3.56 kg and 3.13 kg, P ≤ 0.05). Greasy fleece weight of crossbred ewes was 3.95 kg and 3.57 kg (P ≤ 0.05). Clean fleece weight of crossbred tups outweighed purebred by 15.34% (2.18 kg and 1.89 kg, P ≤ 0.05). Wool yield of crossbred and purebred tups were 53 and 51%, ewes were 55 and 53%. Staple lengths of crossbred and purebred tups were 12.53 cm and 10.51 cm (P ≤ 0.001), crossbred and purebred ewes were 11.48 cm and 9.56 cm (P ≤ 0.01). This study indicates there was no negative effect of an admixture of new blood of North Caucasian breed on wool productivity of F3. These results can help improve meat and wool production.

Pre- and post-partum variation in wool cortisol and wool micron in Australian Merino ewe sheep (Ovis aries)

An individual merino sheep’s output of wool production is influenced by synergistic interactions of sheep genetics, climate, farm management, and nutrition available to the whole flock. The price paid to the producer for this wool commodity is determined via numerous tested parameters and /or subjective appraisal of the raw greasy wool. This research investigated the level of variation in wool cortisol (a physiological stress biomarker) and wool micron (MIC) in Merino ewes (Ovis aries), pre-partum and post-lambing (lactation/lambs at foot), using maiden ewe (n = 38) managed in an outdoor paddock in a commercial farm. The key findings of this study are; (1) wool quality indicators showed a significant variation between pre- and post- parturition including significant reduction in MIC and (2) there was a negative correlation between wool cortisol levels and wool micron pre-parturition (rs = − 0.179, p < 0.05). This relationship between wool cortisol and wool micron was positive (rs = + 0.29, p < 0.05) during post-parturition suggesting that ewes with lambs at foot ended up with finer wool (reduction in fibre diameter) but they also maintained high levels of wool cortisol. Furthermore, the comfort factor, curvature, standard deviation and spin fineness of the wool were also significantly reduced post-parturition. The results of this study show that metabolic resources partitioning in ewe associated with pregnancy and lambing can result in a reduction in wool quality indices. The activity of the HPA-axis is attenuated during late gestation and parturition as a maternal adaptation; however, the results of our study show that wool cortisol remained similar between pre- and post- lambing. This result indicates that environmental stressors that may have been operating on farm (e.g., cold winter period) could influence on maternal physiological stress response however the exact level of influence of environment conditions on ewe stress levels and productivity traits (e.g., lambing success and wool quality) warrants further investigation. In conclusion, the use of top-knot wool sampling in combination with wool cortisol analysis provides researchers with a convenient method to quantify wool quality and physiological stress simultaneously under commercial sheep production.

Wool productivity of sheep of Edilbaevskya breed of different genotypes

The results of a study of the wool productivity and wool quality of sheep of Edilbaevskaya breed of different genotypes bred in the West of Kazakhstan have been presented in the paper. In the farm the improvement of sheep of Edilbaevskaya breed is carried out by using stud rams of Brliksky, Suyundiksky and Kurmangazinsky types of Western Kazakhstan. It has been found that the offspring of Brliksky type rams were inferior in terms of fleece and in the original to their herdmates from Suyundiksky and Kurmangazinsky stud rams. For fleece offspring from Suyundiksky rams with Edilbaevskaya breed ewes were superior to their herdmates from Edilbaevskaya breed rams with Edilbaevskaya breed ewes – gimmers by 0,1 kg or 7,7 %; Kurmangazinsky type gimmers superior to the offspring of Edilbaevskaya breed rams with Edilbaevskaya breed ewes by 0,2 kg or 15,4 %. Gimmers of Kurmangazinsky stud rams exceeded Suyundiksky herdmates by 0,1 kg or 7,7 %. A similar situation has been noted for young rams. The study of the ratio of the main types of fibers and morphological composition has been shown that the wool of Edilbaevskaya breed sheep of the studied types had differences in their ratio. The main type of fibers in the wool of Edilbaevskaya breed sheep of the studied groups is under hair and transitional hair, while the best content of under hairs is marked by Kurmangazinsky type stud rams and their offspring. The ratio of under hair, transitional and beard hairs in the average commercial weights of wool in rams of Brliksky interbreed type was 2,57:3,7:3,50, in animals of Suyundiksky type it was 3,37:2,2:2,93, and in Kurmangazinsky type 3,25:1,7:2,15. In general the conducted research of wool productivity of Edilbaevskaya breed sheep bred in the zone of Western Kazakhstan and the offspring obtained from them are characterized by average indicators. In terms of wool productivity and morphological composition offspring of Kurmangazinsky stud rams surpassed the offspring obtained from the Suyundiksky and Brliksky types of Edilbaevskaya breed.