Post-natal growth changes in the fibre cortex and medulla of the new zealand romney and N-type sheep

Abstract

The relationship between cortical area and fibre area has been examined in the N/N, N/ +, + / +, + /nr and nr/nr genotypes of the New Zealand Romney, using skin biopsies taken at birth, 1, 3 and 16 months of age. The presence of the nr gene was shown to reduce significantly the relative cortical area. Within the genotypes there was an increase in relative cortical area with increasing age and in two-tooth ewes of N/N and N/ + there was an increase in relative cortical area in winter compared to summer.Fibre growth rates in length for primaries and for prenatal and post-natal secondaries were found for lambs between 1 and 3 months and for 16-monthold ewes. In N/N, N/+ and nr/nr primary fibre growth tended to be increased and post-natal secondary fibre growth tended to be decreased relative to + / + values.In both cortical area and fibre growth rate the greatest genotypic effect was shown by the primary fibres.Some estimates of cortical volume have been made by combining the information on cortical area and fibre growth rate and the relationship of these factors to follicle density and mean fibre area has been discussed. Finally, an indication has been given of how the associations of all these four factors might be usefully examined in some British breeds.