The Structure of, and Growth Cycles in, the Coat of Wild Mouflon Sheep (Ovis musimon) and their Crosses

Abstract

The double coat of the Mouflon comprised ketnp fibres 50 mm long, and underwool that was shorter than the kemp until the end of the winter. Some Mouflon × Merino sheep had a similar coat, but the wool was always longer than the kemp and denser, the S/P (wool/kemp) follicle ratio being about 12/1 compared with 20/1 in the Merino parent and about 5/1 in the Mouflon parent. Fleece casting took place during June, but the Mouflon × Merino animals shed only their kemp fibres and cast the fleece only from the belly. New growth of kemp was evident as early as March and was most rapid during spring and early summer. The rate of growth then fell until the maximum length was reached in late autumn. Wool was often not evident until late summer and its maximum rate of growth occurred during autumn. The skin showed that there was a basic annual cycle of follicle activity from March to September and inactivity during the winter 6 months. Although not evident in the coat, subsidiary peaks of follicle inactivity occurred at 2 to 4 month intervals throughout the year. These occurred in similar months to those that have been observed in the goat and in other breeds of sheep.