Development of fibre and follicle characteristics related to wool bulk
in Perendale sheep over the first year of life
J.L. Dick and R.M.W. Sumner
AgResearch, Whatawhata Research Centre, Private Bag 3089,
Hamilton, New Zealand.
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, 1996,
56: 314-318
The pattern of wool fibre and follicle development was monitored for
20 Perendale lambs from lines selected for or against wool bulk. There was
no significant difference in characteristics associated with wool bulk
between selection lines at birth. These characteristics followed a curvilinear
pattern of development with most of the change taking place between birth
and 14 weeks of age then reaching a plateau by 35 weeks. The different rate
of developmental change for each bulk line meant that by 14 weeks the high
line had a greater follicle curvature grade, shorter follicle length, shallower
follicle depth, more para-meso cortex and a higher fibre curvature. Together
fibre curvature, fibre diameter and fibre diameter standard deviation
explained around 70% of the variation in hogget wool bulk from 25 weeks
of age. From these results it is suggested that the potential of a sheep to
produce high bulk wool can be assessed using fibre curvature and fibre
diameter from 6 months of age which allows hogget mating and/or early
culling to be practised.
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
wool bulk; development; fibre curvature; follicle characteristics;
Perendale.
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Last Updated 18-03-1997
