Shearing Merino ewes at different stages of pregnancy: effects on fleece characteristics of progeny

Shearing strong-wool ewes at different stages of pregnancy has been shown to influence the follicle population of the offspring which may result in a finer, heavier fleece. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of shearing time of Merino ewes on the liveweight, fleece characteristics and follicle population of their progeny. Pregnant Merino ewes were allocated to one of three shearing times; mid-pregnancy (d106; 106 days from the introduction of the ram), late-pregnancy (d141) and post-lambing (d191). A skin biopsy was taken from the mid-side of 128 lambs at d359 (~7 months of age) and analysed for primary and secondary follicle density. Mid-side wool samples were collected at d359, d499 and d716. Samples from d359 and d716 were analysed for washing yield, colour and fibre diameter. Greasy fleece weight was measured on d499 and a mid-side sample was taken to measure staple length and staple strength. Shearing time of Merino ewes had no effect on lamb liveweight at any stage of the experiment. Lambs born to ewes shorn during pregnancy had a lesser (P < 0.05) follicle density, secondary follicle density, follicle number index (FNI) and secondary FNI than those born to ewes shorn post-lambing. However, there was no effect (P > 0.05) of dam shearing treatment on fleece characteristics of progeny. The results indicate that, under the conditions of this study shearing Merino ewes in mid-to-late pregnancy did not alter the fleece characteristics of their progeny.

Effects of ethephon on fruit yield, colour and pungency of cayenne and paprika peppers

Summary. ‘PS72285’ paprika pepper and ‘Caysan SPS705’ cayenne chilli pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) were treated with ethephon [(2-chloroethyl) phosphonic acid] with the aim of synchronising maturation for once-only machine harvesting. Ethephon solutions of 0, 1000, 3000 or 5000 µL/L were applied once as foliar applications to pot-grown plants in a shadehouse at the Waite Campus, Adelaide. The effects of ethephon on red fruit yield, colour intensity, pungency, abscission and defoliation were determined. Ethephon did accelerate fruit maturation of both cultivars by increasing the percentage of red marketable fruit for chillies and decreasing the percentage of green paprika fruit. The intensity of extractable red colour in chilli fruit was increased by 16% for 1000 µL ethephon/L, while pungency improved by 46 and 48% for 1000 and 3000 µL ethephon/L respectively. However, red marketable fruit yields measured as fresh and dry weight decreased in chillies due to a large number of abscised fruit. Paprika quality and yield were unaffected. Ethephon also induced defoliation and fruit skin damage. Thus, this study found little benefit from using ethephon as a chemical ripening agent.

Factors Influencing the Vitamin A and D Potency of Grayfish Liver Oil Squalus sucklii (Girard)

A study of the variations in yield, colour and vitamin A potency of the liver oil of grayfish, Squalus sucklii (Girard), as influenced by sex, size and time of catching was made. The mean yield (71.5 per cent), colour (3.5 Lovibond units of yellow) and vitamin A potency (3330 blue units per g.) varied with size of the fish; the other factors did not show any significant influence. Three samples of liver oil assayed 4, 6 and 7 international units of vitamin D and the values did not show any relation to the vitamin A potency.