Lamb Wool Research Articles

Saturated Fatty Acids in Wool as Markers Related to Intramuscular Fat Content in Lambs.

The aim of this study was to identify Longissimus lumborum (LL) muscle from lambs with high IMF content (≥3%) using wool FA. The FA composition was characterized in two sections of wool from Suffolk Down lambs, and its relationship with IMF content assessed. One hundred and forty lambs of similar body weight, body condition score, and age were selected. IMF content from LL muscle, and the wool fat and FA composition of the wool were determined. The proportions of FAs in the wool of lambs with low IMF were 51.96 ± 7.3% of saturated, 31.96 ± 7.7% polyunsaturated, and 16.08 ± 2.3% monounsaturated. Similar proportions of FAs were observed in wool samples of lambs with high IMF. Significant differences were found only in the SFA proportion between groups (p < 0.05). The predominant FAs in the wool samples were C16:0, C17:0, C18:0, C18:1n9c and C18:2n6c, representing over 60% of total FA methyl esters. Correlations were found between the wool FAs C16:1, C17:0, C18:0, C18:1n9c, C24:0, and C22:6n3 in wool samples divided into two sections. Discriminant analysis identified SFAs, particularly FAs C22:0 and C24:0, as potential candidate for predicting lambs with high IMF content with an accuracy of over 92%. These results provide to our knowledge evidence that IMF content could potentially be determined using wool FAs as a non-invasive method.

EFFECT OF DIFFERENT FEEDING LEVELS AND RATION STRUCTURE ON INCREASING SHEEP PRODUCTIVITY

The article considers the process of identifying different amounts of cleavable and non-cleavable basic food in the scars of protein fractions of protein in the south-east of Kazakhstan. The main factors influencing feed intake during fattening are the physical form of the feed, the energy concentration in the dry matter of the diet and the live weight of the sheep. When feeding granulated feed mixtures, feed losses in the form of scraps are reduced by 20-25%, dry matter consumption increases by 10-15% and amounts to 45-50 g per 1 kg of live weight, which allows increasing the total consumption of nutrients by 25-30%, obtaining more meat production by 26.20%, lamb wool by 15.65%, reducing feed costs per 1 kg of gain by 2 feed units or 30%. The proteins most intensively broken down in the rumen of sheep are those of clover and alfalfa grass (83.5-84.6%), grass from foothill and mountain pastures (70.0-71.7%), alfalfa hay and haylage (76.6-81.3%), corn silage (78.6%), and oat and barley grain (84.0-85.3%). Intensive fattening of fat-tailed meat-and-fat sheep using our detailed feeding standards, feed mixtures, and compound feeds ensures an average daily gain of 200-230 g, a carcass weight at slaughter of 23-26 kg, a meat-pulp yield of 76-78% with an expenditure of 6.0-7.0 feed units, 78-80 MJ of exchange energy per 1 kg of live weight gain.

Wool cortisol as putative retrospective indicator of stress in ewes during the third trimester of pregnancy, and their newborns: effects of parity and litter size — an exploratory study

Stress is an important factor in animal welfare. Hair or wool cortisol concentrations are considered to be potential long-term indicators of stress experienced by an animal. Using Swifter sheep, we investigated whether ewe parity and litter size affect the wool cortisol concentrations in ewes and their offspring. We hypothesized that multiparous ewes and their offspring would have higher wool cortisol concentrations than primiparous ewes and their offspring, that ewes with larger litters and their offspring would have lower wool cortisol concentrations than ewes with smaller litters and their offspring, that male lambs would have higher wool cortisol concentrations than female lambs, and that the wool cortisol concentrations in the wool of ewes and their lambs would be correlated. Lamb wool grows in utero during the third trimester of pregnancy. In ewes, the shave–reshave method was used so that wool samples from ewes also covered approximately the last trimester of pregnancy. Our study confirmed that litter size affected ewe wool cortisol concentrations: ewes that gave birth to larger litters (i.e., 3 or 4 lambs) had higher wool cortisol concentrations than ewes that gave birth to smaller litters (i.e., 1 or 2 lambs). There was no evidence that the wool cortisol concentrations of the ewes and their lambs were correlated. Neither litter size nor parity of the ewe affected wool cortisol in the lambs. Our study confirms that wool cortisol can be reliably measured in ewes and their newborn lambs, and suggests that it may be useful as a retrospective indicator of stress during the last trimester of pregnancy.

Comparative performance of Magra lambs in the field and at an organised farm in arid zone of Rajasthan

A study was conducted to compare the growth and wool yield and quality of Magra lambs under the field and farm conditions in arid zone of Rajasthan. Magra lambs (40 lambs from field flocks and 20 lambs from an organized farm) from 15 days to 24 weeks of age were monitored during autumn-winter and spring-summer seasons. Lambs in the field were maintained on grazing alone while in the farm they were supplemented ad libitum groundnut haulms after grazing. There was significant (p<0.05) effect of management on body weight, weight gain and average daily gain of lambs. Compared to the field lambs, farm lambs attained 15.41 and 19.12% higher body weights at 11 and 24 weeks of age. The effect of season was significant (p<0.05) on 24 weeks body weight, weight gain during 11 to 24 weeks and average daily gain during 11 to 24 weeks of age. The overall means of wool yield of lambs at 24 weeks in the field and farm were 313.50±15.34 and 430.79±34.39 g respectively and the differences were significant (p<0.05). Fibre diameter,medullation, crimps and staple length of wool of lambs in the field and farm were 35.36±1.55 vs 34.72±2.08μ, 64.04 ±7.71 vs 54.53±6.53%, 1.12±0.01 vs 1.24±0.19 per cm and 4.68±0.49 vs d5.18±0.56 cm respectively. The study suggested thatad libitum supplementation of groundnut haulms in addition to grazing and shelter improved the growth and wool yield of Magra lambs.

Wool quality and daily weight gain in native lambs from the Central Region of Argentina

The ovine population of the central Argentine territory is the result of constant introductions of different animal biotypes, which determined the existence of ovine populations with great variability. The main objective of the breeders is to produce a lamb for self-consumption and sale of surpluses, without considering the wool product. The production of a lamb for the market is compatible with the production of wool for the textile industry, having to evaluate the feasibility for the commercialization of lamb wool that they produce. This work aimed to provide information and tools to evaluate the quality of lamb’s wool and the evolution of the weight of lambs belonging to the native flocks of the area. Characterization of the productive systems was carried out, seeking to highlight the attributes of meat and wool of native lambs. The characteristics of wool and meat lamb product were evaluated under two treatments, either in free rage conditions or lambs supplemented under confinement. The analysis of the behaviour of the productive systems did not show significant differences between lamb biotypes, which allows affirming that the variation within an animal biotype is even more important than the expected one between biotypes. This indicates that both treatments can be used according to the particular situation of each productive unit. Therefore, it is possible to produce wool and meat of outstanding quality looking for the goodness of the wool produced and optimizing through proper handling practices the meat product.

Lamb wool shedding is a good predictor of ewe wool shedding.

Interest in reducing labour costs due to shearing has led to development of breed types that shed their wool naturally. Selection at young ages can facilitate response. Reliability of predictions of adult from lamb wool shedding (WS) is thus key in the design of breeding programmes to increase shedding. Our objectives were to estimate heritabilities and genetic relationships between WS measured once in lambs and repeatedly in ewes and to assess the accuracy of lamb WS EBV to predict ewe WS EBV based on a multi-trait threshold or a repeatability model. Data were 4,971 lamb and 3,335 ewe WS records on a Romanov, White Dorper and Katahdin composite flock. For the multivariate model, WS heritability ranged from 0.47±0.03 in lambs to 0.59±0.04 at 1year of age. For the repeatability model, WS in adult ewes was moderately heritable (0.50±0.03) and repeatable (0.60±0.02). Genetic correlations were 0.72±0.04, 0.65±0.05, 0.50±0.09 and 0.51±0.09 between lamb WS and 1st through 4th record, respectively. Given the moderately high heritability and high correlations between WS performance in lambs and ewes, selecting animals early in life would effectively increase WS in crossbred flocks.

Electrical Characteristics Based on Resistance and Impedance of Polish Olkuska Sheep Lambs Wool

ABSTRACT The aim of the study was to determine the electrical characteristics of wool derived from Polish Olkuska breed lambs. The comparison involved the features of wool both in its natural state and washed. The lambs were bathed on the 1st and 14th days of life. Electrical features were determined on the basis of impedance (Ω) and resistance (Ω) for wool samples from 16 lambs from twin litters. The wool samples were collected from the lambs on the 14th and 35th days of life. The results of blood morphology (RBC, WBC, HGB, HCT, PLT, MCV, MCH, MCHC) were used in order to evaluate the health status of both lambs subjected to bathing and control ones. The level of resistance and impedance at low frequencies in both cases demonstrated the step changes from 0 Ω to over 100 MΩ. This shows that wool has the features of a dielectric (insulator) in the frequency range from 10 Hz to 64 kHz. At a frequency of > 64 kHz, there was a linear trend of decline in the value from about 30 kΩ to the lowest values of resistance and impedance at a frequency of 1 MHz, and these values amounted to > 7.3 kΩ and > 4 kΩ, respectively. The effect of lamb bathing on the electrical properties of wool was demonstrated. These treatments resulted in an increase in resistance of wool from 35-day-old lambs bathed on the 14th day of life compared to the control group (maximum differences at the level of 40–50%). In turn, wool of lambs bathed on the 1st day of life had lower resistance than wool from lambs in the control group, on average 10–20% lower. No significant correlations were demonstrated between bathing treatment and lamb health status, except for higher levels of leukocytes in the 14-day-old lambs subject to bathing on the 1st day of life compared to the control, which amounted to 8.76 x 109/L, and 6.38 x 109/L (P ≤ 0.05), respectively.

A Survey of Bacterial Pathogens Detected in Feces and Wool in Small Ruminants (Pilot Study)

Sheep feces can carry a high concentration of pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria, which potentially may contaminate wool as well as the shearers or wool manipulators through direct contact. A pilot study was carried out to determine the presence of bacterial DNA in feces and the degree of bacterial contamination in wool in two species of ruminants. Fourteen 2-month old lambs and 14 kids (7 male and 7 female), uncastrated, no twins, with their mothers, were randomly selected at weaning from a free flock grazing on naturalized pasture of Los Rios region, Chile. Fecal and wool samples were taken once and analyzed for genomic DNA of Salmonella typhimurium containing the virulence plasmid spv, Eschrichia coli serotype O157, Clostridium perfringens type C containing α toxin and Mycobacterium avium sp paratuberculosis containing the IS900 insertion element. The results showed that lamb and kids feces had higher contents of bacterial DNA for E. coli O157 and SalmT than lamb wool, although only one lamb showed these two bacteria on its wool. The bacterial species influenced the DNA expression for 16S in both, feces (P=0.05) and wool (P=0.0006) and for E. coli O157 and SalmT only in feces (P<0.0001). The sex was associated with E. coli detection in lambs feces (P<0.0007) and in kids feces (P<0.05). The values obtained for MAP IS900 and Cpa DNA contents, considering both species and sex, were undetectable. In conclusion, lamb and kids feces should potentially contaminate wool especially by Eschrichia coli O157 and Salmonella typhimurium, representing a potential health risk and public health concern, especially for shearers and wool handlers.

The effect of ewe mineral status on the lambs mineral supply

The aim of our study is to examine the mineral status of Tsigai ewes and their lambs based on wool mineral content, and the relationship between ewes wool and milk mineral content and the lamb wool mineral concentration. Ten Tsigai sheep nursing single lamb was randomly selected on the 6–10th day of lactation. Sampling was carried out in March. Wool samples free of visible contamination were obtained from the withers of the ewes and the lambs using bended scissors. Approximately 10 ml of milk samples were collected by hand milking. Ca, Mg, Na, Cu, S, P, Se and Zn content were determined by ICP-OES (Perkin-Elmer, Optima 3300 DV). Statistical analyses were carried out by SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC) GLM procedure. Wool mineral content did not show deficient supply in case of ewes. Young lamb’s wool mineral composition is distinct from those measured in adult ewes. This fact and the lack of significant correlation between ewe and lamb mineral status indicates strictly regulated mineral passage through placenta.

Biodegradation of hard keratins by two bacillus strains.

Background:Extensive quantities of keratinic by-products are disposed annually by animal-processing industry, causing a mounting ecological problem due to extreme resilience of these materials to enzymatic breakdown. There is a growing trend to apply cheap and environment-friendly methods to recycle keratinic wastes. Soil bacteria of profound keratinolytic potential, especially spore-forming rods from the genus Bacillus, play a significant role in keratinase-mediated biodegradation of keratins, therefore could be effective in hastening their biodegradation. Keratin hydrolysis in microbial cultures is one of the most promising techniques not only to utilize this protein but also to obtain valuable by products.Objectives:The study was undertaken to investigate the biodegradation process of various keratinic materials by two Bacillus strains.Materials and Methods:Two keratinolytic strains, Bacillus cereus and B. polymyxa, were subject to cultures in the presence of several keratinic appendages, like chicken feathers, barbs and rachea of ostrich feathers, pig bristle, lamb wool, human hair and stratum corneum of epidermis, as main nutrient sources. Bacterial ability to decompose these waste materials was evaluated, at the background of keratinase and protease biosynthesis, in brief four-day cultures. Keratinolytic activity was measured on soluble keratin preparation and proteases were assayed on casein. Additionally, amounts of liberated proteins, amino acids and thiols were evaluated. Residual keratin weight was tested afterwards.Results:Both tested strains proved to be more adapted for fast biodegradation of feather β-keratins than hair-type α-keratins. B. cereus revealed its significant proteolytic potential, especially on whole chicken feathers (230 PU) and stratum corneum (180 PU), but also on separated barbs and rachea, which appeared to be moderate protease inducers. Keratinolytic activity of B. cereus was comparable on most substrates and maximum level obtained was 11 KU. B. polymyxa was found to be a better producer of keratinases, up to 32 KU on chicken feathers and 14 KU on both fractions of ostrich feathers. Its proteolytic activity was mostly revealed on stratum corneum and human hair. Stratum corneum was extensively degraded by both bacterial strains up to 99% - 87%, chicken feathers 47-56%, ostrich barbs and rachea, 28% and 35% at maximum, respectively. Keratin fibres of structures like human hair, lamb wool and pig bristle remained highly resilient to this short microbiological treatment, however certain extent of keratinase induction was also observed.Conclusions:The obtained results prove that keratinolytic potential of both tested bacterial strains could be applied mainly in biodegradation of feathers, however, B. cereus and B. polymyxa differed in terms of keratinase and protease production on each of the substrates. Biodegradation of highly resilient structures like hair or pig bristle requires further analysis of process conditions.

Bashert, the Beloved

Bashert, the Beloved Deborah Bauer (bio) Click for larger view View full resolution From outside the French doors, the black cocker spaniel, Bashert, followed Alex Rosen from dresser to the bed and back again, with eyes clouded from cataracts. Alex dumped the dresser drawers directly into the waiting cardboard carton, not bothering to fold a cashmere sweater with lamb's wool collar or the countless pairs of unbecoming polyester shorts with their rippled waistbands. He taped the flaps in place. Done, finished, kaput. It felt damn good to put a lid on it all. The few hours left in the Saturday afternoon were his and his alone. He would allow himself one final day of bereavement before he once again took up the business at hand, moving real estate in a Phoenix summer so hot the bags of ice turned to slush between market and home. A few pressing matters still lurked in the corners of his thoughts. No matter what their daughter, Claire, thought, Alex had taken to sleeping on the sofa bed before learning of Elaine's illness. One night after watching a late-night John Wayne movie he simply decided to spare her the jiggling of the mattress. As simple as that, only thoughtfulness, no ulterior motives on his part whatsoever. It was Elaine who let Bashert, her beloved, take over his side of the bed, rub her weeping eyes on his pillow, shed those scratchy hairs between the sheets. It was Claire's mother's doing from the start. Alex turned away from the dog's head so picturesquely framed in a single pane of glass. He tackled the bedside table, tossing a year-old [End Page 143] copy of The New Yorker, a romance novel, and an ancient tube of spermicidal jelly into a waste-paper basket. She kept everything. In the bottom drawer he came across the beige wallet with worn corners, as if Elaine, playing games from the grave, planted it for him to find. Four quarters, two dimes, a "good-luck" penny from the Horseshoe Club in Las Vegas dropped from the coin purse. Yeah. Some luck she had. A plastic accordion displayed credit cards from Macy's, J.C. Penney's, Visa. In the bill compartment he found a small folded paper with the familiar scrawl of her handwriting, as loopy as she was, Claire's new address for the fall semester at the university. A buried treasure well worth the search. Since the day of the funeral when she lugged a brimming purple laundry basket out to a strange pickup truck, Claire had become incommunicado. She took the death hard, too hard, demanding minute details over and over again as if she was a private investigator hired to find the root, the cause of a disaster with no easy identifiable cause other than ethnicity or age. When, precisely, did Elaine discover the lump in her right breast? How did she learn of its clandestine existence? How come no one told her until the last three months? Why had all treatments failed, even the clinical study? When Alex confessed that he had no answers, Claire acted as if he'd conjured the cancer by sticking pins in a Jewish rag doll. All he knew was that there'd been little love between them for a very long time, but that fact did not make him a killer. He pocketed the slip of paper and moved on to the bathroom to sweep the medicine cabinet shelves of makeup and the useless pills with their easy-to-open tops. He shifted his eyes to the light fixture above the mirror to avoid facing the dark pouches under his eyes and a new paunch straining at the belt. Since the funeral he'd craved dairy: ice cream, cheeseburgers, cheesecake; he was never without thin white sticks of mozzarella in his pocket. In Elaine's last months, they'd slept apart, eaten apart, and barely spoke except to question whether the air conditioner needed a tune-up. That's the way she wanted it, so it was fine with him. Still, he was used to her footfall on the stairs, her raucous laughter on the...

Stable isotopes to discriminate lambs fed herbage or concentrate both obtained from C3 plants

This study was aimed at determining whether isotopic ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) enables us to discriminate between lambs fed herbage or concentrate, both obtained from C(3) plants, and those fed a concentrate obtained from C(4) plants. Thirty-four Comisana male lambs (age 45 days) were assigned to three feeding treatments. Fourteen lambs were fed vetch (Vicia sativa) ad libitum. Another fourteen lambs received a barley-based concentrate. The remaining six lambs were fed a maize-based concentrate. After 60 days of experimental treatment the animals were slaughtered and the wool, perirenal fat and muscle longissimus dorsi were sampled. The delta(13)C and delta(15)N values of the muscle, wool and feed were measured by continuous flow elemental analysis (CF-EA)-IRMS. The delta(13)C of the fat was determined likewise. The isotopic composition of the tissues reflected that of the three diets. For the lambs which were fed herbage the muscle delta(13)C values were higher (P < 0.0005) and delta(15)N values were lower (P < 0.0005) than those of the lambs receiving concentrates. The delta(15)N and delta(13)C values in the muscle and delta(13)C values in the adipose tissue allowed perfect discrimination between the lambs fed the three different diets. The regression between the delta(13)C values measured in muscle and in wool of lambs was linear (R(2) = 0.99; P < 0.0005). This result shows that delta(13)C measured in the wool can predict muscle delta(13)C distribution, suggesting that wool is a valuable matrix for meat authentication.

Increasing Heel Skin Perfusion by Elevation

To determine the efficacy of elevation in the primary prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers by studying the blood flow in tissue at risk of ulceration. A prospective study was used to compare different preventative devices with an elevating prosthesis. : Wollongong Hospital Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. Normal subjects and subjects with vasculopathy were tested with their heel resting on a hospital bed, medical-grade lamb's wool, or a viscoelastic gel overlay, with or without the test prosthesis. Skin perfusion was measured throughout using a laser Doppler monitor. A device designed to elevate the heel off the bed and distribute the weight of the leg and foot on the calf. Heel capillary blood perfusion. Perfusion in the heel was significantly greater when elevated than when using the other devices tested. The differences in mean red blood cell flux were significant, with P < .0001 for bed-normals, ie, subjects with no peripheral vascular disease on an alpha Xcell mattress overlay as the control with flux increasing from 7.6 to 163.1 arbitrary units (AU); P < .005 bed-vasculopathy, ie, subjects with peripheral vascular disease on an alpha Xcell mattress overlay as the control with flux increasing from 31.6 to 224.7 AU; P < .0001 viscoelastic overlay subjects where the viscoelastic overlay was the control with flux increasing from 26.6 to 291.4 AU; and P < .01 lamb's wool subjects where the lamb's wool was the control with flux increasing from 27.7 AU to 169.2 AU. In this study, when the heels were elevated, tissue perfusion to that area was substantially increased. When the heel was transferred to the elevating splint, the heel capillary bed underwent reactive hyperemia, indicating the alleviation of tissue hypoxia. Elevation is therefore an important technique in pressure ulcer prevention and treatment and should be incorporated into health care practice.

Study on the Thick Tip of Lamb's Wool of Superfine Merino Sheep

Superfine wool of Merino sheep has many distinct characteristics, especially its higher fineness. Generally, its mean diameter is about 16.5 µm and it is a good material for fine worsted fabrics. However, the region near the tip of a primary fiber has a coarser fiber diameter, with a value of 35—66 µm. The length of such a segment is usually up to 16—22 mm. The secondary fiber also has a small swelling segment near the tip, but the length of this segment is very short and difficult to determine. The existence of such fibers with thick tips would greatly decrease the final product quality. However, the fiber diameter of the wool becomes even and unchangeable along the fiber when a lamb is 4 months old. Therefore, we suggest that lamb's wool should be sheared for other uses on lambs over 4 months of age.

The effect of maternal shearing and thyroid hormone treatments in mid pregnancy on the birth weight, follicle, and wool characteristics of lambs

Mid pregnancy shearing of ewes has been associated with a short‐ to medium‐term increase in maternal thyroid hormone concentrations. To determine the role of this elevation in the observed changes in lamb birth weight and fibre characteristics, ewes in mid pregnancy were either: shorn at day 70 of pregnancy with thyroid glands left intact (Shorn), unshorn with intact thyroid glands (Unshorn), thyroidectomised but left unshorn with a short‐term elevation in thyroxine (T4) concentrations in mid pregnancy (Tx+T4), or unshorn with intact thyroid gland and prolonged elevation in T4 concentrations (+T4). The Tx+T4 regime successfully increased maternal thyroid hormone for a short period post‐treatment, while the +T4 regime increased maternal thyroid hormone levels for a prolonged period during mid to late pregnancy. Lambs born to Shorn ewes were significantly (P < 0.05) heavier than those born to Tx+T4 and +T4 ewes and tended to be heavier than those born to Unshorn ewes (P = 0.10). Birth weights of lambs born to Tx+T4 and +T4 ewes did not differ from those born to Unshorn ewes. Ewe treatment had no effect on lamb wool follicle characteristics or fibre diameter, coefficient of variation of mean fibre diameter, yield, or loose wool bulk; but treatment tended to affect colour (P = 0.05) and staple length (P = 0.09). These results suggest that an elevation in maternal thyroid hormones is not the sole endocrine mechanism responsible for either the birth weight effect or changes in fibre characteristics observed in lambs born to mid pregnancy shorn ewes. However, it is still possible that an elevation of T4 and T3 concentrations in conjunction with other factors are required to achieve the observed effects.

Skin test hypersensitivity for childhood asthma in Istanbul during a period of 16 years

Background For diagnosis of allergic disorders, besides history and physical examination, many in vivo and in vitro laboratory tests are used. Skin prick test (SPT) is an easily performed and valuable test in children. Our aim was to evaluate the SPT results of asthmatic children according to age and gender, in Istanbul and its neighborhood, followed for a period of 16 years. Material and methods Consecutive 5080 asthmatic children, aged 1 to 18 years, admitted to Pediatric Allergy Policlinics of Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Medicine Faculty from 1987 to 2003, were screened retrospectively for 10 frequently exposed allergens. Results 3086 cases (61 %) had SPT reactivity for one and/or for multiple allergens; the SPT reactivity percentages of the exposed allergens was 50% (2554 cases) for house dust mites DP, 49% (2462 cases) for house dust mites DF, 15 % (784 cases) for cat dander, 10 % (525 cases) for dog dander, 4% (228 cases) for lamb wool, 10 % (504 cases) for wheat, 3% (162 cases) for egg white, 6% (345 cases) for hazelnut pollen, 6% (318 cases) for Candida Albicans, 6% (326 cases) for Aspergillus Fumigatus. Conclusion While house dust mites were determined as the predominant allergen for each age groups in this study, allergy against cat dander was the third important allergen in sequence, as cat is a domestic pet which is frequently kept at home in Turkey.

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.

Arsenic accumulation and speciation analysis in wool from sheep exposed to arsenosugars

Wool or hair fibre is a metabolically dead material after it has left the epidermis. During growth the fibre in the root is a metabolically very active organ, which is highly influenced by the health status of the living being. Arsenic is one of the elements that is easily taken up by the cells of the root and stored in the fibre afterwards. Here we show that arsenic can quantitatively be extracted by boiling the wool fibre or hair in water. The high intake of arsenic species by the sheep of North Ronaldsay (the seaweed-eating sheep) leads to a high arsenic concentration in wool (mean 5.2±2.3 μg g −1). The wool of lambs of these sheep, which are not exposed to seaweed, contains about 10 times less arsenic, which is still elevated compared to uncontaminated wool. The arsenic species identified in wool extract are arsenite (As(III)), arsenate (As(V)), monomethylarsonic acid (MMA(V)) and monomethylarsonious acid (MMA(III)) as minor species. The major species is dimethylated arsenic DMA in its tri- and pentavalent form (dimethylarsinous acid (DMA(III)) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA(V))) accounting for 85% of the specified arsenic in the wool which reflects the amount of dimethylated species (i.e. the arsenoribofuranosides) taken up by seaweed being the main food source of the sheep. However, there are unknown arsenic species in the extract, which are not eluting from a strong anion exchange column. In vitro incubation experiments with this kind of wool showed that it has reducing properties but no demethylation was recorded. The absorption ability of the wool for methylated arsenic species is negligible, while inorganic arsenic is easier to be absorbed in the fibre (11–17%). This means that the species integrity is only guaranteed in terms of the degree of methylation but not in terms of their redox status.

Physical Properties and Processing of Fine Merino Lamb's Wool

The effect of wool crimp, independent of fiber diameter, on loose fiber resistance to compression and the handle of fine Merino lamb's and fleece wool was reported in Part II of this series of papers. For staples in which crimp is well defined, there is a good correlation between crimp and fiber curvature. In woolen system processing, a reduction in fiber crimp/curvature results in greater sliver bulk, more even slubbing, hairier yarns, and loftier knitted fabric. A subjective and objective evaluation of knitted and woven fabrics processed from batches combining specially selected individual fleeces illustrates how fabric handle can be engineered through the principal raw wool parameters of fiber curvature and diameter.

Physical Properties and Processing of Fine Merino Lamb's Wool

The fiber properties and handle of fine Merino lamb's and fleece wool are critically reviewed in Part 1 of this series of papers. Those objective characteristics that distin guish these two classes of raw wool and appear to account for the relative softness of hand of lamb's compared with fleece wool are presented here. The best single parameter indicating softness is resistance to compression. A reduction in staple crimp frequency or mean fibre diameter or both lowers resistance to compression and increases softness. The lower mean staple crimp frequency observed in wool grown in the first four months of a lamb's life is a visual indication of tactile softness compared with that of wool grown subsequently.