Clean Fleece Yield Research Articles

Effects of age and body region on wool characteristics of Merino sheep crossbreds in Turkey

Aim of this study was to comparatively investigate the wool characteristics of Central Anatolian Merino, Karacabey Merino and Ramlıç sheep, which are common crossbred sheep breeds in Turkey. A total of 360 wool samples were equally collected from the shoulder, rib, and rump of each lamb (3-6 months-age), yearlings (1-1.5-year age), primiparous ewes (2-2.5-year age) and multiparous ewes (3-3.5-year age) were used for analysis. Each sample was analyzed to determine fibre diameter, length, clean fleece yield, elasticity, and strength. Also, live weight after shearing and greasy fleece weights were recorded for each animal. Statistical analysis of this study was performed using SPSS software. Normality hypothesis tested using the Shapiro-Wilk test. Homogeneity of the variance for each trait was tested with the Levene's test. Descriptive statistics of the traits were given as mean ± standard error. Observed means for greasy fleece weight were 3.6 ± 0.09 kg, 2.5 ± 0.09 kg, and 2.2 ± 0.08 kg for Karacabey Merino, Central Anatolian Merino and Ramlıç sheep, respectively. Average diameter, length, clean fleece yield, elasticity, and strength measurements of Karacabey Merino were 23.9 ± 0.11 μ, 59.2 ± 0.64 mm, 56.2 ± 0.35%, 20.2 ± 0.23 cN / tex, and 12.6 ± 0.09 cN / tex, whereas 24.7 ± 0.12 μ, 50.6 ± 0.71 mm, 55.2 ± 0.60%, 21.6 ± 0.23 cN / tex, 13.8 ± 0.14 cN / tex in Central Anatolian Merino and 24.1 ± 0.12 μ, 53.2 ± 1.05 mm, 62.9 ± 0.53%, 22.3 ± 0.26 cN / tex, 13.4 ± 0.12 cN / tex were observed in Ramlıç sheep, respectively. This study suggests that observed wool characteristics for each of three crossbreds were within the standard range of the textile industry. Therefore, all three crossbreds were suggested to be considered for the development of new agricultural policies and increasing breeder?s awareness to reintroduce these crossbreds in the textile industry.

Correlations between growth and wool quality traits of genetically divergent Australian lambs in response to canola or flaxseed oil supplementation.

The correlations between growth and wool traits in response to canola and flaxseed oil supplementation were evaluated in Australian prime lambs. Sixty dual-purpose prime lambs including purebred Merino and crossbred lambs were allocated to one of five treatments of lucerne hay basal diet supplemented with isocaloric and isonitrogenous wheat-based pellets. Treatments were: no oil inclusion (Control); 2.5% canola oil; 5% canola oil; 2.5% flaxseed oil and 5% flaxseed oil, with lamb groups balanced by breed and gender. Each lamb was daily supplemented with 1kg of pellets and had free access to lucerne hay and water throughout the 7-week feeding trial, after a 3-week adaptation. Individual animal basal and supplementary pellet feed intakes were recorded daily, while body conformation traits, body condition scores and liveweights were measured on days 0, 21, 35 and 49. The lambs were dye-banded on the mid-side and shorn before commencing the feeding trial and mid-side wool samples were collected from the same dye-banded area of each lamb at the end of the experiment. Correlations between wool quality traits and lamb performance were non-significant (P>0.05). Oil supplementation had no detrimental effect on lamb growth and wool quality traits (P > 0.05). Gender significantly affected wither height gain and fibre diameter. There were significant interactions between oil supplementation and lamb breed on chest girth. The correlations between clean fleece yield (CFY) and other wool quality traits were moderate ranging from 0.29 to 0.55. Moderate to high correlations between fibre diameter (FD) and other wool quality traits were detected (0.46–0.99) with the strongest relationship between FD and wool spinning fineness (SF). The relationship between CFY and wool comfort factor (CF) were positive, while negative relationships between CFY and the others were observed. A combination of 5% oil supplementation and genetics is an effective and strategic management tool for enhancing feed efficiency and growth performance without negative effects on wool quality in dual-purpose lamb production. This is a good outcome for dual-purpose sheep farmers. It essentially means the absorbed nutrients in supplemented lambs yielded good growth performance without any detrimental impact on wool quality; a win-win case of nutrient partitioning into the synthesis of muscle and wool without compromising either traits.

English

Growth hormone (GH) gene has been described as a candidate gene for marker-assisted selection in different farm animals. The present study was designed to identify the polymorphism in GH gene and its association with variation of wool traits in Egyptian sheep breeds. Wool and blood samples were collected from 42 animals including two breeds (Barki and Rahmani) and one crossbred (Rahmani x Awase). Measurements of wool traits were analyzed and involved staple strength (Str), staple length (STL), fiber diameter (FD) and clean fleece yield (CFW). DNA was extracted from blood samples and a 365-bp fragment from exon V was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Single strand conformation polymorphisim (SSCP) analysis showed two conformational patterns. The pattern I was recorded to be more frequent (83.3, 92.86 and 90%) than pattern II (16.7, 7.14 and 10%) in Barki, Rahmani and crossbred, respectively. The sequence analysis showed one single nucleotide polymorphism (C/T). The pattern I (allele T) has been found to affect CFW and FD than pattern II (allele C). Whereas, C allele was more pronounced for Str and STL. These traits are the most important parameters determining commercial values of wool that are preferred for clothing or carpets industry. The nucleotide sequences of C and T alleles were submitted to GenBank and have the accession numbers: KT250511 and KT250512, respectively. In conclusion, the present results provide evidence that there is a single nucleotide polymorphism within GH gene in Egyptian sheep breeds. This mutation was found to have some effects on wool traits. Therefore our data show interesting prospects in future selection programs for improving wool industry. Key words: Sheep, wool, growth hormone (GH) gene, polymorphism, single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP).

Influence of Sire Breed, Protein Supplementation and Gender on Wool Spinning Fineness in First-Cross Merino Lambs

Our objectives were to evaluate the effects of sire breed, type of protein supplement, level of supplementation and sex on wool spinning fineness (SF), its correlations with other wool characteristics and prediction accuracy in F1 Merino crossbred lambs. Texel, Coopworth, White Suffolk, East Friesian and Dorset rams were mated with 500 purebred Merino dams at a ratio of 1:100 in separate paddocks within a single management system. The F1 progeny were raised on ryegrass pasture until weaning, before forty lambs were randomly allocated to treatments in a 5 x 2 x 2 x 2 factorial experimental design representing 5 sire breeds, 2 supplementary feeds (canola or lupins), 2 levels of supplementation (1% or 2% of liveweight) and sex (wethers or ewes). Lambs were supplemented for six weeks after an initial three weeks of adjustment, wool sampled at the commencement and conclusion of the feeding trial and analyzed for SF, mean fibre diameter (FD), coefficient of variation (CV), standard deviation, comfort factor (CF), fibre curvature (CURV), and clean fleece yield. Data were analyzed using mixed linear model procedures with sire fitted as a random effect, and sire breed, sex, supplementary feed type, level of supplementation and their second-order interactions as fixed effects. Sire breed (P<0.001), sex (P<0.004), sire breed x level of supplementation (P<0.004), and sire breed x sex (P<0.019) interactions significantly influenced SF. SF ranged from 22.7 ± 0.2im in White Suffolk-sired lambs to 25.1 ± 0.2im in East Friesian crossbred lambs. Ewes had higher SF than wethers. There were significant (P<0.001) correlations between SF and FD (0.93), CV (0.40), CF (-0.94) and CURV (-0.12). Its strong relationship with other wool quality traits enabled accurate predictions explaining up to about 93% of the observed variation. The interactions between sire breed genetics and nutrition will have an impact on the choices that dual-purpose sheep producers make when selecting sire breeds and protein supplementary feed levels to achieve optimal wool spinning fineness at the farmgate level. This will facilitate selective breeding programs being able to better account for SF and its interactions with other wool characteristics.

Factors affecting wool characteristics of Kari sheep in Pakistan

The present study attempted to generate some basic information on wool production and quality in the Kari breed. Thirty flocks, 10 each in the 3 Union Councils (UCs), were registered for on-farm performance recording in the Lotkho Tehsil, north of Chitral city. Two animals per flock were selected for collecting fleece samples from 3 yearly shearings. The actual greasy wool yield per sheep was 937 g. Wool yield per shearing averaged 366 ± 9.6 g. Location and flock differences were found significant (P < 0.01). The same was also true for the clean fleece yield with an overall average of 300 ± 8.2 g per shearing. The fibre diameter averaged 23 ± 0.2 µm, and flock differences were significant (P < 0.01). The staple length varied among flocks (P < 0.01), locations, and shearing season (P < 0.05). Male Kari had more medulated fibres than female Kari (6.9 ± 0.37% vs. 5.5 ± 0.37%). The greasy and clean fleece yields were quite repeatable traits (repeatability > 0.5). The repeatability estimates of fibre diameter and staple length were 0.38 and 0.20, respectively. Sheep of 3-4 years of age had maximum fleece yield, while there was a declining trend thereafter. As the area is not approachable during winter season, research and developments efforts can be effective if nuclei could be established in the Lotkho area.

Genetic parameters for Australian maternal and dual-purpose meatsheep breeds. II. Liveweight, wool and reproduction in Corriedale sheep

Performance of sheep from a large Corriedale stud flock was assessed. Weaning and yearling liveweights, greasy and clean fleece weights, clean fleece yield and average fibre diameter records on approximately 3000 animals representing 64 sires were analysed. Also scrotal circumference of 1009 rams representing 27 sires were analysed. Some 3740 reproduction records over 11 years, for 980 ewes representing 114 sires, were also analysed. Heritability estimates were 0 34 �0.07 for weaning liveweight, 0.132 � 0.04 for yearling liveweight, 0.32 � 0.07 for greasy and 0.29 � 0.07 for clean fleece weights, 0.534 � 0 10 for clean fleece yield, 0-56 � 0 10 for yearling and 0 62 � 0 - 14 for hogget fibre diameters and 0.l5 � 0.11 for scrotal circumference. The genetic correlations between liveweight and fleece weight ranged from 0.13 to 0.34, and those for liveweight and fibre diameter were close to zero. The genetic correlations of scrotal circumference with liveweight and wool traits were positive and moderate. Reproductive performance in the flock was high, with fertility 92% and litter size 1.62, resulting in 148% lambs born and 130% lambs tagged alive of ewes joined. Estimated heritabilities for reproduction traits were 0-03 � 0.02 for lambs born and for lambs tagged, and the component traits, fertility 0 01 � 0 -02, litter size 0.04 � 0.03 and neonatal lamb survival was zero. Lambing date had a heritability of 0.06 � 0.03. Estimates of repeatability ranged from 0-04 � 0-01 for fertility to 0.07% 0.02 for lambs tagged and lambing date. Predicted heritabilities for the average of 3.8 records per ewe generally agreed with those estimated for average ewe lifetime performance, which ranged from 0.02 � 0.08 for fertility to 0.12 � 0.09 for lambs tagged and 0.l3 � 0.09 for lambing date.