Relationships between skin follicle characteristics and fibre properties of Suri and Huacaya alpacas and Peppin Merino sheep

2012 ◽  
Vol 52 (7) ◽  
pp. 442 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. B. Ferguson ◽  
B. A. McGregor ◽  
R. Behrendt
Keyword(s):  
Negative Correlation ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Variable Number ◽  
Primary Follicle ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Secondary Follicle ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Fibre Traits ◽  
Fibre Characteristics ◽  
Skin Samples

We aimed to quantify the number, type and arrangement of skin follicles in Huacaya and Suri alpaca skin and correlate their follicle characteristics with fibre traits of harvested fibre and compared these relationships with those of Merino sheep. Fibre and skin samples were collected from the mid-side of 12 Huacaya alpacas, 24 Suri alpacas and 10 Merino sheep. The mean fibre diameter (MFD ± s.e.) of the Huacaya and Suri were: 35.5 ± 0.9 and 28.3 ± 1.0 μm, respectively. The follicle groups found for alpacas were very different from the normal trio of primary follicles found in sheep and goats. The follicle group of the alpacas consisted of a single primary follicle surrounded by a variable number of secondary follicles. The mean ± s.e. primary follicle density was 3.1 ± 0.3 and 2.7 ± 0.1 follicles/mm2 for Huacaya and Suri, respectively. The mean ± s.e. secondary follicle density (SFD) was 13.7 ± 1.2 and 17.5 ± 0.6 follicles/mm2 for Huacaya and Suri, respectively. The mean ± s.e. ratio of secondary to primary follicles (S/P ratio) was 5.1 ± 0.5 for the Huacaya and 7.3 ± 0.2 for the Suri alpacas. The sheep had higher S/P ratios and SFD, lower MFD and produced significantly heavier fleeces. The key correlations found between traits in alpacas include a negative correlation between SFD and MFD (r = –0.71, P = 0.001) and a negative correlation between S/P ratio and MFD (r = –0.44, P = 0.003) and a positive correlation between S/P ratio and total follicle density (r = 0.38, P = 0.010). The study revealed that important relationships exist between alpaca skin follicle characteristics and fibre characteristics. It was the number of secondary follicles in a group that imparts density and a corresponding reduced MFD.

Fleece characteristics and postnatal fleece development in Finnish Landrace × Merino sheep

1972 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. L. Ryder ◽  
D. T. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Variable Length ◽  
Primary Follicle ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Fibre Development ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Commercial Value ◽  
Fleece Weight ◽  
Staple Length

SUMMARY1. Fleece characteristics in Finnish Landrace × Merino and Merino × Finnish Landrace sheep were compared with those of the parental breeds, and although most characters in the crossbreds showed no significant departure from the parental mean, they had similarities to the Merino which imparted commercial value.2. The wool was mostly of 60s quality compared with 58s in the Finnish Landrace, and 64s and over in the Merino parents. Crimp number showed heterosis, being 5 to 6 per cm in the crossbreds compared with 2 in the Finnish sheep and 7 in the Merino.3. The mean fleece weight was 3-5 kg, compared with 2-2 kg in the Finnish sheep and 4-2 kg in the Merino.4. The mean staple length was 13 cm compared with a very variable length around a mean of 16 cm in the Finnish Landrace, and 10 cm in the Merino.5. The fibre diameter was nearer to that of the Merino, but not significantly so (primary mean 29·2 μ, secondary mean 26·6 μ).6. The greater fleece weight of the crossbreds would be expected to be associated with a greater skin follicle density, but they had a secondary/primary follicle ratio of about 10 (compared with 5 in the Finnish Landrace and 20 in the Merino), which did not differ significantly from the parental mean.7. There was some evidence that fibre development was initially more rapid in the crossbred lambs.

The long-term influence of superphosphate and stocking rate on the production of spring-lambing Merino sheep in the high rainfall zone of southern Australia

1999 ◽  
Vol 50 (7) ◽  
pp. 1179 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. W. D. Cayley ◽  
G. A. Kearney ◽  
G. R. Saul ◽  
C. L. Lescun
Keyword(s):  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
The Body ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Gross Margin ◽  
Single Superphosphate ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Predetermined Level ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Fleece Weight

The productivity of spring-lambing fine wool Merino sheep grazing pastures sown in 1977 to perennial ryegrass and subterranean clover was assessed from 1989 to 1998. The pastures were fertilised each autumn with single superphosphate at 6 levels, and were stocked at a low, medium, or high stocking rate (SR) at each level of fertiliser. The average phosphorus (P) applied annually since sowing (P ) ranged from 1.6 to 32.9 kg/ha. The SRs used varied with fertiliser level in that they were higher where more fertiliser had been applied, so that the highest SR at each level of fertiliser ensured that the pastures were well utilised. Each ewe raised 1 lamb, which was removed at weaning. The influence of fertiliser on the productivity of the sheep at 4 classes (1–4) of SR (mean SR = 7.1, 10.1, 12.6, and 18.2 ewes/ha for classes 1–4, respectively) was described by: y = A−BCP, where y represents production per sheep (kg), and A, B, and C are constants. For greasy fleece weight, estimates of B and C were 1.59 and 0.84; and for SR classes 1–4, the estimates of A were 5.06, 4.89, 4.78, and 4.46, respectively. For weaning weight of lambs, estimates of B and C were 8.4 and 0.82, and estimates of A were 23.5, 22.7, 21.5, and 20.9 for SR classes 1–4. The mean fibre diameter (µm) of the wool was described by: D = 14.18+1.48 GW, where GW is the mean greasy wool produced annually per sheep (kg) averaged over all sheep and years for each of the 18 treatments. The price (cents/kg) of wool with a fibre diameter D (P D) was given by: P D = 12197+4.94P2 + 688D−0.1945P20D − 5810√D, where 20 µm wool is P20 cents/kg. Supplements were fed if the body condition of ewes fell to a predetermined level. The supplement fed per ewe each year (S), expressed as metabolisable energy (in MJ) was described by: S = −602 − 44.1S R + 178.5P + 8.71S R P +539 √SR− 338.5√P−70.8P√SR, where S R and P represent the mean stocking rate (ewes/ha) and mean P applied annually. When a current set of costs and prices was applied to these equations, the maximum gross margin for a SR of 7.1 ewes/ha was $AU119/ha with 8.6 kg P/ha applied annually, and $AU262/ha for SR of 18.2 ewes/ha with 17.6 kg P/ha applied annually. If income derived from sheep is maintained constant, intensifying the sheep enterprise from the low to the high SR system would involve increasing sheep numbers by about 17%, but would release about 55% of the farm’s area for another purpose.

scholarly journals Red LED light promotes hair follicle development to improve fibre quality in Su line Angora rabbit

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Qin ◽  
Jing Wang ◽  
Le Shao ◽  
Xiaoqing Pan ◽  
Jie Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hair Follicle ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Follicle Development ◽  
Fibre Quality ◽  
Primary Follicle ◽  
Led Light ◽  
Secondary Follicle ◽  
Red Led ◽  
Wool Yield ◽  
Hair Follicle Development

Abstract Background: Light has crucial roles in animal physiological activities. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different colours of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on rabbit fibre quality and hair follicle development. 50 three-month-old Su line Angora rabbits were randomly assigned to five groups. Treatment groups were exposed to same intensities of red, green and blue LED light under 16 h light:8 h dark photoperiod regimes. Control groups were exposed to white light and black. The trial spanned 73 days. Results: Results showed that LED colours exerted different effects on wool yield, fibre quality, hormones and hair follicle development. The wool yield of red group was higher than that of white, green and black groups (P<0.05). The shoulder fibre length of red group was higher than that of white and green groups (P<0.05). The coarse fibre diameter of white group was lower than that of green and black groups (P<0.05). The fibre diameter of red group was the lowest and was lower by 13.9% than that of control group (P>0.05). The coarse fibre ratio of green group was higher (13.31%) than that of red group (3.81%, P<0.05). The follicle groups of white, green and black groups consisted of 1 primary follicle associated with 3 or 4 secondary follicle groups and those of blue group consisted of 1 primary follicle associated with 5–10 secondary follicle groups. The follicle of red group consisted of numerous secondary follicles and a few primary follicles. In same magnification, the numbers of follicle groups of white, red, green, blue and black groups were 14.0, 16.5, 10.0, 11.67 and 11.0, respectively. The numbers of follicle groups of red and green groups significantly differed (P<0.05). Serum melatonin (MT) of red group was highest than that of white and green groups (P<0.01), higher than that of black group (P<0.05), serumTriiodothyronine (T 3 ) of red group was higher than that of white and black groups (P<0.05). Conclusions: Thus, the data reveal that red LED light can improve fibre quality, this may be due to red LED light which can enhance the secretion of melatonin to promote hair follicle development .

Genetic studies of South Australian Merino sheep. 4. Genetic, phenotypic and environmental correlations between various wool and body traits

1982 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 363 ◽  
Author(s):  
IP Gregory
Keyword(s):  
Great Increase ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Skin Thickness ◽  
Primary Follicle ◽  
Genetic Studies ◽  
Environmental Correlations ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Fleece Weight ◽  
Australian Merino

Genetic, phenotypic and environmental correlations were estimated between 23 quantitative and qualitative wool and body traits of South Australian Merino sheep. Clean fleece weight was significantly correlated genetically with greasy fleece weight (0.62), yield (0.47), staple length (0.41), crimps per inch (-0.34), secondary/primary follicle ratio (0.37) and skin thickness (0.39). No significant half-sib genetic correlation was found between clean fleece weight and fibre diameter and the dam-offspring correlation was quite low, although significant (0.16, P < 0.05). This indicates that selection for clean fleece weight should not lead to any great increase in fibre diameter. Skin thickness is discussed as a possible early indicator of clean fleece weight.

Genetic studies of South Australian Merino sheep. 3. Heritabilities of various wool and body traits

1982 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 355 ◽  
Author(s):  
IP Gregory
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Skin Thickness ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Primary Follicle ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Main Production ◽  
Fleece Weight ◽  
Australian Merino ◽  
Staple Length

Heritabilities have been estimated for a large number of quantitative and qualitative wool and body traits recorded on two flocks of South Australian Merino sheep over a 12-year period. Data were unadjusted for fixed environmental effects and so the estimates are applicable to the heterogeneous populations found in most practical situations. Dam-offspring heritabilities of quantitative traits ranged from 0.15 for primary follicle number to 0.63 for body weight. Greasy and clean fleece weights, percentage clean yield, staple length, crimps per inch, fibre diameter, secondary and total follicle number, skin thickness, coefficient of variation of fibre diameter and secondary/primary follicle ratio had moderate to high heritabilities. Dam-offspring heritabilities of qualitative traits ranged from 0.12 for weather damage of the fleece to 0.75 for birthcoat. Total folds, face cover and hocks had high heritabilities, and wool character, type of staple formation and wool quality had moderate heritabilities. The main production traits (body weight, greasy fleece weight, yield, clean fleece weight, staple length, fibre diameter and total follicle number) were corrected for variation due to type of birth and age of dam and their heritabilities re-estimated. No change occurred in the half-sib heritabilities; dam-offspring heritabilities increased by an average of 0.05.

Reduction in wool follicles prior to birth in Merino sheep

1999 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 229 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. Hocking Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Primary Follicle ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Secondary Follicle

This study was undertaken to identify whether all secondary follicles that are initiated are present at birth in the Merino fetus, and if not, when does net initiation of secondary follicles cease. Skin was sampled from fetal lambs at 36, 26 and 16 days before the estimated date of parturition and from lambs at birth and 2, 4, 6, 8 and 13 weeks after birth. The ratio of secondary to primary follicles (S/P) reached a maximum 16 days before birth and was significantly lower at birth (P<0.002) and at all postnatal ages (P<0.05). There was no difference between S/P at birth and S/P at later ages. Postnatal primary follicle density, secondary follicle density and the percentage of fibre-producing follicles followed similar patterns to those reported by others. This is the first conclusive demonstration that secondary follicle initiation is completed several weeks prior to birth and that there are less secondary follicles at birth than at 134 days of gestation.

Perinatal wool follicle attrition coincides with elevated perinatal circulating cortisol concentration in Merino sheep

2007 ◽  
Vol 58 (7) ◽  
pp. 748 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. C. Toland Thompson ◽  
M. L. Hebart ◽  
N. M. Penno ◽  
P. I. Hynd
Keyword(s):  
Surface Area ◽  
Plasma Cortisol ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Skin Surface ◽  
Cortisol Concentration ◽  
Primary Follicle ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Secondary Follicle ◽  
Plasma Cortisol Concentration ◽  
Wool Follicle

The development of the follicle population in Merino sheep skin was studied from 30 days pre-partum to 112 days post-partum in single- and twin-born Merino lambs. The total number of primary follicles estimated from primary follicle density and skin surface area did not change over this period, while secondary follicle number increased to Day 28 post-partum in singles and Day 56 post-partum in twins. Twins had 14% fewer total follicles than singletons (P < 0.001), largely reflecting a bodyweight (hence estimated skin surface area) difference of 10%, with little difference in total follicle density (P > 0.05). Immediately post-partum there was a 36% decrease (P < 0.0001) in the secondary to primary follicle ratio (S/P) of the twin lambs, while a small non-significant decrease (7%; P > 0.05) occurred in the single lambs. This attrition coincided with a surge in plasma cortisol concentration that commenced ~12 days before birth and persisted for 6–12 days post-partum. The surge in plasma cortisol concentration occurred in both single and twin lambs, commencing on Day 138 of gestation; however, the peak cortisol concentration and the period over which cortisol remained elevated was greater in twin lambs than in singletons (P < 0.001). This study confirms a previous finding of a perinatal reduction in S/P ratio in Merino sheep. The reduction was greater in twin lambs than in singletons but the follicles of twins recovered rapidly so that there was little difference in final S/P ratio between birth types after Day 30 post-partum. The postnatal follicle reduction followed the perinatal surge in plasma cortisol concentration and appeared to reflect the magnitude of the cortisol surge in that twins, which displayed a higher peak cortisol concentration, had a greater reduction in active follicles than singletons.

Effect of egg transfer on the skin follicles and birthcoats of Finnish Landrace and Soay lambs

1974 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marca Burns ◽  
M. L. Ryder
Keyword(s):  
Fibre Type ◽  
Opposite Effect ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Follicle Development ◽  
Direct Effects ◽  
Hair Density ◽  
Maternal Environment ◽  
Secondary Follicle ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Skin Samples

SummaryThe birthcoats of Finnish Landrace lambs showed a wide range of halo-hair grades but all had strongly checked fibre type arrays, which were either Plain or Valley. Transfer to Welsh Mountain dams reduced the effect of prenatal check, giving fewer sickle fibres and increased halo-hair and/or super sickle A percentage. Transfer to Border Leicester tended to have the opposite effect. Fibre diameter measurements made on skin samples indicated an increase in primary fibre diameter in transfers into Welsh dams, but no difference in transfers into the Border Leicester.All Soay samples had Grade VII halo-hair density and Plateau or Saddle arrays. Transfer of Soay eggs to Finnish Landrace ewes increased the percentage of sickle fibres mainly at the expense of hairy-tip curly-tips. Skin samples from the transferred Soays indicated reduced primary fibre medullation, and evidence of retarded secondary follicle development.Thus in both breeds the birthcoat changed slightly in the direction of that of the foster-dam. There was, however, no indication that increased prenatal check was associated with increased foetal size. It is therefore concluded that changes in birthcoat as a result of egg transfer are more probably due to direct effects of the maternal environment than to the effect of foetal size as previously postulated.

Some properties of the wool from copper-starved Merino sheep

1949 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 265-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. Palmer
Keyword(s):  
Tensile Strength ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Fibre Length ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Fibre Strength ◽  
Research Association ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Special Skill ◽  
The Mean

The mean fibre length, mean fibre diameter, mean fibre crimp ratio (i.e. ratio of length of the fibre under 2·5 mg. load to its length stretched), and a quantity approximately proportional to the ultimate tensile fibre strength, have been measured for twenty-five skirted Merino fleeces clipped from sheep that had been grazed at Robe (South Australia) on copperdeficient land and fed by mouth with amounts of copper varying from zero to 100 mg./day. Sulphur analyses and qualitative amino-acid analyses were carried out on some of the fleeces. The fleeces were processed one by one on the worsted system into yarn. The results show an increase in fibre diameter, an increase in ultimate tensile strength and an improvement in behaviour in processing with increasing dietary supplement of copper.A contribution to these experiments through special skill or knowledge has been made by almost everyone on the staff at Torridon, and especially by the late W. L. Semple, J. G. Martindale and H. Beevers. Thanks are due to Messrs Isaac Holden and Sons Ltd. for their generous co-operation in carrying out part of the work at their mill and to Mr A. Prescott, Mr F. Sharp and Mr G. W. Owen of the Wool Control, and Mr F. R. Emmett of Messrs Laycock, Son and Co. Ltd., for their assistance in judging tops. The author would like to thank Mr B. H. Wilsdon, the Director of Research, for suggestions and encouragement during this work, and the Council of the Wool Industries Research Association for permission to publish this paper.

scholarly journals Nutritional Factors Involved in Wool Production by Merino Sheep I. The Influence of Fodder Intake on the Rate of Wool Growth

1948 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hedley R Marston
Keyword(s):  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Nutritional Factors ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Mean Diameter ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Four Levels ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Relationship

The rate of wool growth (weight of wool produced per unit time), determined in seven sheep subjected to four levels of food intake, ncreased 400-600 per cent. from the lowest to the highest level of feeding and this change was reflected in both the mean length and in the mean diameter of the fibres, the relationship between these variables being characteristic of the individual sheep. The fibre diameter distribut!ons were also affected, the individual fibres responding up to the limit of their capacities in proportion to their cross-sectional areas.

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