Average Staple Length Research Articles

Оценка на живото тегло и вълнодайната продуктивност на овце от Карнобатска тънкорунна порода

In order to evaluate the levels of some main productive traits in sheep of the Karnobat Fine Fleece breed, raised in the flock of the Institute of Agriculture - Karnobat, a study was conducted for the live weight and wool productivity of animals born in the period 2013 - 2019. Some main productive traits of 316 sheep were controlled: live weight from weaning to 4.5 years of age, wool yield and staple length up to 4.5 years of age, clean wool yield and clean fiber at 1.5 and 2.5 years. It was established that the sheep of the Karnobat Fine Fleece breed at 2.5 years weigh an average of 59,090 kg live weight and give an average of 6,540 kg of wool with an average staple length of 11.43 cm, an average clean wool yield of 64.42 % and clean fiber – 4,220. The levels of all studied productive traits depended on environmental factors and the year of birth had a significant effect. Linear affiliation gave a significant effect on wool yield and the amount of clean fiber obtained by sheep at 2.5 years. The results obtained for the wool productivity traits are higher than the breed standards and show a good evenness in the flock and by ages. Live weight data are within the norm and confirm the early sexual maturity of the Karnobat fine fleece sheep breed.

Variation in mohair staple length over the lifetime of Angora goats

Previous work has shown that, within an Angora goat flock, clean fleece weight is proportional to fleece-free liveweight (FFLwt)2/3 and for goats of the same age and cohort, the mean mohair fibre diameter is proportional to FFLwt1/3. This indicates that fibre length might not be related to the size of animals. This study examines how mohair staple length (SL) is related to FFLwt of Angora goats of different genetic origins over their lifetime and how the relationship varies with other lifetime factors. Measurements were made over 11 shearing periods on a population of Angora goats representing the current range and diversity of genetic origins in Australia, including South African, Texan and interbred admixtures of these and Australian sources. Records of breed, sire, dam, date of birth, dam age, birthweight, birth parity, weaning weight, liveweight, fleece growth and fleece quality were taken for castrated males (wethers) (n = 94 animals). FFLwt were determined for each goat at shearing time by subtracting the greasy fleece weight from the liveweight recorded immediately before shearing. The average of the FFLwt at the start of the period and the FFLWt at the end of the period was calculated. Liveweight change (LwtCh) was the change in FFLwt over the period between shearings. A restricted maximum likelihood model was developed for SL, which allowed the observations of the same animal at different ages to be correlated in an unstructured manner. Average SL differed from ~12.0 to ~14.5 cm, depending on age. There were no consistent effects of season. At any age, an increase of 10 kg LwtCh between animals results in about a 0.34 (s.e. = 0.087) cm increase in SL. There was no evidence of an effect of FFLwt on SL. The results confirm our hypothesis that within a single age cohort of Angora goats, there is very little, if any, relationship between the liveweight and SL of individual animals. This implies that the biological determinants of size of fibres related to cross-sectional area are substantially different to the size determinants of fibre length.

A Study on Some Physical Attributes of Naeini Sheep Wool for Textile Industry

In order to evaluate some physical and qualitative characteristics of Naeini sheep wool for using in textile industry, herds from 6 different regions of Isfahan province were chosen. Staple length from 3 different body parts (shoulder, side and britch) was measured prior to shearing. Wool samples were taken from a 100 cm2 surface on the mid-side of the Animals. Then the samples were transferred to the Laboratory of Animal Sciences for evaluations of some quality characteristics and to the Fiber Physics Laboratory for measuring tenacity, breaking strength and elongation at break of fibers. The means and standard deviations of staple length were estimated (10.8 +/- 2.36), (9.71 +/- 3.14) and (10.99 +/- 2.49) cm for shoulder, side and britch parts, respectively. The total average staple length of Naeini sheep (10.5 cm) is suitable for using in textile industry. Wool fibers of Naeini sheep have desirable tenacity and breaking strength (1.22 cN/dtex and 13.76 centi-Newton) to resist against mechanical tensions of the spinning step. However, Naeini sheep wool fibers have an adequate, but not a desirable % elongation at break (28.6%). Based on the fiber diameter mean of Naeini sheep and its variation (28.51 +/- 4.33 microm) the fleece grade of Naeini sheep was predicted 54's, which is an intermediate grade. However, by conducting breeding programs toward enhancing fleece grade, Naeini sheep wool will be simply applicable in textile industry.

Production, attributes and relative value of alpaca fleeces in southern Australia and implications for industry development

An investigation of commercially important alpaca fibre attributes aimed to identify the influence of management and production variables on alpaca fibre and to quantify the relative economic value of fibre production. Fleeces from five farms in southern Australia ( n = 1100) were measured using midside samples and standard tests and were assigned a relative economic value based on an analysis of market price data. Greasy fleece (GFW) and saddle weights of Huacayas peaked at 2 years and Suris at 3 years of age and then declined with increases in age until 6 years of age. GFW of Huacaya were not affected by mean fibre diameter (MFD). In Suris, GFW increased with MFD reaching a peak at 29–33 μm. Mean ± S.D. of clean washing yield was 92.0 ± 1.5%. The proportion of the fleece as saddle, neck and skirting components was (mean ± S.E., %): saddle 55.9 ± 0.9, neck 16.3 ± 0.5, skirtings 27.8 ± 0.6. About, 10% of Huacayas had fleeces with MFD < 24.0 μm, while 14% of Suris had fleeces < 24.0 μm. Both Huacayas and Suris had about 50% of fleeces with mean fibre diameter > 29.9 μm. One-third of Huacaya and Suri saddles had <20% of their fibres medullated. Only, 30% of white Huacaya and Suri samples had >50% of their fibres medullated. For Huacaya and Suri alpaca, the incidence of medullated fibres increased linearly from 10 to 60% by weight as MFD increased from 20 to 36 μm. The ratio of medullated fibre diameter to MFD declined as MFD increased. For Huacaya, there was no change in average staple length as MFD increased. Huacaya alpaca had a greater fibre curvature than Suri alpaca. Data on resistance to compression and staple strength was correlated with other fibre attributes. The price declined by 11% per 1 μm increase in MFD from 22 to 26 μm and by 5% per 1 μm increase between 27 and 34 μm. The total relative economic value increased with increasing GFW and with increasing saddle weight up to 2.5 kg. Total relative economic value declined as MFD increased above 23 μm, increasing live weight above 60 kg and with increasing age above 2 years for Huacaya and 3 years for Suri. The productivity and economic returns from fleece production of Huacaya and Suri breeds was similar. The Australian industry needs to implement commercial mating, shearing and culling strategies to maximise production and returns from animals aged less than 3 years. The main driver of economic value from fleece production was lower MFD of the fleece.

A genetic analysis of wool characteristics and lamb performance traits in Scottish Blackface sheep

AbstractGenetic parameters were estimated for wool quality, fleece characteristics and lamb production traits for Scottish Blackface sheep reared under extensive hill conditions in the UK. In two separate studies, heritabilities and genetic correlations were estimated for wool quality traits measured on lambs at 5 months of age and again on the shorn fleece a year later. The wool traits included birth coat length (BCT), 10-point scores for proportion of grey and kemp fibres present in the fleece (grey, kemp), British Wool Marketing Board (BWMB) recommendation (REC), greasy fleece weight (FLWT), BWMB fleece grade (FLGR), and average staple length (ASL). Genetic and phenotypic correlations were estimated between lamb wool traits and lamb live weights at birth (BWT), marking (at mid lactation with an average age of 7 weeks) (MWT), weaning (at an average age of 17 weeks) (WWT) and slaughter (SLWT), average fat depth (AVFD) and average muscle depth (MD). Individual lamb carcass measurements included Meat and Livestock Commission (MLC) conformation score (CONF) and fat class (FATC). Heritability estimates measured on 2524 or more live lambs were 0·69, 0·52, 0·26, 0·42 and 0·31 for BCT, ASL, grey, kemp and REC respectively. Heritability estimates for traits measured on the shorn fleece a year later for 1415 ewes were 0·37, 0·02, 0·57, 0·43, 0·46 and 0·14 for ASL, grey, kemp, REC, FLWT and FLGR respectively. Genetic correlations between FLWT in hoggets and other wool were positive and moderate to high in magnitude, ranging from 0·22 for kemp in lambs to 0·48 for grey in hoggets. Genetic correlations between REC and live-weight traits were 0·39 for MWT, 0·37 for WWT and 0·44 for SLWT. Genetic correlation between ASL and ultrasonic fat depth was 0·15 and for ASL and ultrasonic muscle depth was -0·30. The results indicate that the simple scoring systems derived to assess these traits are useful indicators of fleece quality, are highly repeatable over time and are a good gauge of likely future wool production. The results indicate that selection for heavier, leaner lambs should not compromise fleece quality, as assessed in this study.

15—OBSERVATIONS ON THE CHARACTERISTICS OF AUSTRALIAN GREASY WOOL PART IV: STAPLE LENGTH IN MERINO SKIRTING WOOLS

A study is reported of a survey of staple-length measurements in Australian merino skirting wools. It is shown that the average staple length of all merino skirting types examined was approximately 10 mm shorter than that of all the common merino fleece types measured. The other major difference in staple-length characteristics between merino fleece wools and merino skirting wools is in the within-sale-lot variance.

16—OBSERVATIONS ON THE CHARACTERISTICS OF AUSTRALIAN GREASY WOOL PART V: STAPLE LENGTH IN CROSSBRED FLEECE WOOL

A study is reported of a survey of staple-length measurements in Australian crossbred fleece wool. lt is shown that staple-length variation within a sale lot for crossbred fleece wool was much higher than that in merino fleece wools of similar fibre diameter but very similar to that of merino skirtings. The average staple length of the crossbred fleece wools was 110 mm, which was longer than that of merino fleece wools and merino skirtings of similar fibre diameter.

11—OBSERVATIONS ON THE CHARACTERISTICS OF AUSTRALIAN GREASY WOOL PART I: STAPLE LENGTH IN MERINO FLEECE WOOLS

The average staple length of merino fleece wool is 84 mm. Subjective classification of diameter–style groupings from one selling centre into ‘long’, ‘medium’, and ‘short’ produces differences of 7–8 mm between adjacent length categories. Sale lots within these length categories vary by ± 14 mm (95% confidence interval), so there is considerable overlap even between ‘long’ and ‘short’ wools. Individual staples within a sale lot vary by ± 25 mm about the mean (95% confidence interval). These estimates vary significantly with diameter and style category and among selling centres.

Optimum Number of Observations Needed to Estimate Average Staple Length and Fiber Diameter in Indian Wools

Optimum Number of Observations Needed to Estimate Average Staple Length and Fiber Diameter in Indian Wools

Optimum Number of Observations Needed to Estimate Average Staple Length and Fiber Diameter in Indian Wools

For Indian wools, instead of difficult and costly techniques to determine fiber diameter and staple length, the projection microscope and foot rule methods were utilized. Averages, standard errors, and C.V. percentages were calculated. The number of observations required at confidences of 95% and 67%.

Staple Diagram

This article describes a rational method of collecting test samples for drawing up Staple Diagrams and shows a simple geometric analysis in getting the Ratio of Cut Fibres and Average Staple Length which are necessary when comparing Staple Diagrams.