Variations in the strength of wool fibres - A review

1992 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
pp. 1337 ◽  
Author(s):  
PJ Reis
Keyword(s):  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Protein Composition ◽  
Nutrient Supply ◽  
Rate Of Change ◽  
Seasonal Effects ◽  
Major Influence ◽  
Fibre Strength ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Pregnancy And Lactation ◽  
Staple Strength

This review outlines the factors that may influence the strength of wool fibres and the associated changes in structure and protein composition that have been observed in weakened fibres. The strength of a wool staple is dependent on the intrinsic strength of the fibres that it contains and the total cross-sectional area of fibre being tested. The minimum fibre diameter and the rate of change of diameter along a staple are important determinants of strength. Different sheep kept under similar conditions show a large range of staple strengths. Estimates of heritability for staple strength are sufficiently high (0.17 to 0.49 in Merinos; 0.20 to 0.58 in Romneys) to prompt the establishment of selection programmes in both breeds. A variety of physiological and environmental factors influence the strength of wool fibres. Nutrient supply exerts a major influence via effects on fibre diameter. In addition, there are specific effects of some amino acids (methionine and lysine), trace elements (copper and zinc) and vitamins (folic acid). Seasonal effects are important in breeds which exhibit a large annual rhythm of wool growth, e.g. Romneys, but not in Merinos. Pregnancy and lactation influence fibre strength through competition for essential nutrients but hormonal factors may also be involved. Fibre strength may also be influenced by stress involving excessive secretion of glucocorticoids and by various parasites and diseases which can influence nutrient supply and cause stress. No clear association has been established between the strength of wool fibres and the proportions of the constituent proteins. The content of high-tyrosine proteins in the matrix of weak fibres is frequently, but not invariably, reduced. Likewise, fibre strength has been associated with the proportions of components of the high-sulfur proteins in some studies, but not in others. Thus in Romneys, but not Merinos, tender (weak) wool contained a higher proportion of orthocortex than sound wool, and hence contained less ultra-high-sulfur proteins. Weak fibres produced by specific nutritional treatments in adult sheep and lambs show a loss of cuticle scale pattern and malformed or degraded fibres.

Biological defleecing: intravenous infusion of amino acid mixtures lacking lysine and methionine creates a weakened zone in the wool staple, which is amenable to mechanical wool harvesting

2015 ◽  
Vol 55 (10) ◽  
pp. 1264 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. I. Hynd ◽  
N. M. Edwards ◽  
S. Weaver ◽  
K. Chenoweth ◽  
R. Stobart ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Intravenous Infusion ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Fibre Strength ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Weakened Zone ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Staple Strength

Conventional shearing of sheep is labour-intensive, expensive and presents significant occupational health and safety risks. The only alternative at present is based on injection of epidermal growth factor, which severs the fibre at the follicle level. This technology cannot be used in pregnant animals and requires application of a net to retain the severed fleece. An alternative is to create a weakened zone within the wool staple, which would be sufficiently strong to retain the fleece on the sheep while a protective covering regrows, but sufficiently weak as to allow painless and automated removal of the fleece. We demonstrate that this approach is possible using mixtures of amino acids lacking lysine and methionine. Initially we demonstrate the relationships between staple strength, a subjective ‘harvestability’ score and a subjective ‘pain’ score, using fleeces from animals treated with varying levels of cortisol to create a wide range of strengths of wool attachment. We assigned a score to the ease with which we could manually break the staples, and also to the animal’s response to breaking the staples still attached to the skin. The relationships between these variables indicated that a staple was considered harvestable and could be removed with minimal skin flinch response at a staple strength of ~10–13 N/kTex. Staples within this range were then produced by intravenous infusion of mixtures of amino acids lacking in lysine and methionine for a 5-day period. The weak point was uniformly created across the entire fleece and when a prototype roller-pin device was applied to the weakened wool, it uniformly broke the fleece of the three sheep tested. The mode of action of the amino acid treatment on wool growth was studied. There was no effect of unbalanced amino acids on the rate of follicle bulb cell division, the number of active wool follicles, or the length of the keratinisation zone in the wool follicle. Fibre diameter was reduced by ~4 microns by treatment, and intrinsic fibre strength (strength relative to cross-sectional area of the wool fibres), was reduced by ~50%. Results of these trials are encouraging but further work is required to develop a practical, on-farm method of altering systemic amino acid supply and to design an automated, high-throughput system of severing the weakened wool.

Stress-strain properties of individual Merino wool fibres are minor contributors to variations in staple strength induced by genetic selection and nutritional manipulation

2009 ◽  
Vol 49 (8) ◽  
pp. 668 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. N. Thompson ◽  
P. I. Hynd
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Selection ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Strain Curve ◽  
Single Fibre ◽  
Fibre Strength ◽  
Force Extension ◽  
Stress Strain ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Fibre Stress ◽  
Staple Strength

This paper investigates the contribution of single fibre stress-strain properties to variations in staple strength induced by both selective breeding for staple strength and nutritional manipulation. Merino weaners (n = 40), selected from ‘sound’ and ‘tender’ lines of staple strength selection flocks, were allocated to feeding regimes designed to induce liveweight changes simulating typical Mediterranean seasonal changes. Average staple strength differed by 5 N/ktex between ‘sound’ and ‘tender’ selection flocks and 18 N/ktex between extreme nutritional treatments. The force-extension properties of individual wool fibres (n = 100 per sheep) were measured using a single fibre strength meter. After normalising for differences in fibre cross-sectional area at the point of break, the key parameters used to describe the stress-strain curve for each fibre were: Young’s modulus (GPa), yield stress (MPa), stress at 15% strain (MPa), stress at break (MPa), strain at break (%) and work to break (MPa). The average stress-strain properties of single fibres differed widely between individual sheep. Stress at break ranged from 163 to 235 MPa (44% range), strain at break ranged from 21 to 44% (103% range) and work to break from 43 to 71 MPa (65% range). There were no significant differences in any of the single fibre properties between the staple strength selection flocks, nor was there any significant interaction (P > 0.05) between staple strength selection flock and nutritional regimes. Nutritional regime had a significant effect on stress at break, strain at break and work to break, but none of the single fibre stress-strain properties removed any appreciable variance in staple strength over and above that accounted for by differences in along- and between-fibre diameter variation. There appears to be little scope for improvement of single fibre stress-strain properties as a means of increasing staple strength in normal production environments. Selection directly for staple strength or indirectly using the fibre diameter variability traits is an effective method to improve staple strength.

scholarly journals Managing the nutrition of twin-bearing ewes during pregnancy using Lifetimewool recommendations increases production of twin lambs

2011 ◽  
Vol 51 (9) ◽  
pp. 813 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. Hocking Edwards ◽  
K. J. Copping ◽  
A. N. Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
South Australia ◽  
The Body ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Pregnancy And Lactation ◽  
Staple Strength

The effect on ewe and lamb production by differential management of single- and twin-bearing Merino ewes during pregnancy and lactation was examined. The hypothesis that the survival and productivity of single- and twin-born progeny is not affected by differential management of single- and twin-bearing ewes was tested. To test this hypothesis, two ewe flocks were monitored on a commercial property in the south-east of South Australia. The body condition score of one flock of ewes was managed according to Lifetimewool recommendations for southern Australian (Lifetimewool flock; n = 464). Lifetimewool recommendations are that body condition score should be 3.0 at mating and then allowed to decline to an average of 2.7, which is maintained until lambing. Twin- and single-bearing ewes were managed as separate mobs after pregnancy scanning to meet their energy requirements. The second flock was managed similarly to the commercial ewe flock and was representative of ewe management practices in the region (normal-practice flock; n = 464). At lambing, the condition score of the Lifetimewool flock was 0.7 condition scores units greater than the normal-practice flock. Ewe clean fleece weight and fibre diameter were greater in the Lifetimewool flock and their lambs had higher survival rates to weaning. Over three shearings, progeny from Lifetimewool ewe flocks produced more clean wool (P < 0.0001) but there was no consistent effect on fibre diameter, staple length or staple strength. Twin-born lambs from ewes managed to Lifetimewool guidelines had a similar liveweight and produced similar quantity and quality of wool to single-born lambs managed to Lifetimewool guidelines, but still suffered higher rates of mortality to weaning. This suggests that it is possible to manage ewes pregnant with twins to ensure that their surviving progeny perform at a level similar to single-born progeny managed under similar targets.

Grazing management of reproducing ewes affects staple strength

2000 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 783 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. M. Robertson ◽  
G. E. Robards ◽  
E. C. Wolfe
Keyword(s):  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Staple Fibre ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Nutritional Management ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Pregnancy And Lactation ◽  
Staple Strength ◽  
Lamb Growth

A grazing study was conducted on irrigated pastures to assess the influence of manipulating the availability of green pasture at different stages of pregnancy and lactation on the staple strength of broad-wool Merino ewes lambing in July. Sheep subjected to different treatments produced wool ranging between 14 and 48 N/ktex for single-rearing and 22 and 53 N/ktex for non-lambing ewes. Single-bearing/rearing ewes produced wool of strength +4.7 (P>0.05) to –23 N/ktex (P<0.001) in comparison with non-lambing ewes. Reproduction was associated with a reduction in staple strength of 51, 24 and 9% for ewes grazed throughout the experiment at low, medium and high pasture levels, respectively. A staple strength greater than 40 N/ktex was achieved in single-rearing ewes which grazed high pasture mass throughout pregnancy and lactation, during late pregnancy and early lactation, or during mid-pregnancy. Single-rearing ewes, which grazed low pasture biomass throughout either mid, late or all of pregnancy, or during lactation, produced wool with staple strength less than 30 N/ktex. In comparison to grazing the medium pasture allowance throughout the experiment, manipulation of pasture availability had relatively small effects on lamb growth and average fleece measurements, compared with the effects on staple strength. The exception was ewes grazing only the low pasture allowance. The interaction between reproduction and nutritional management influenced staple strength by altering the minimum fibre diameter and the uniformity of along-staple fibre diameter and rate of wool growth. It was concluded that managing pasture availability to promote a uniform along-staple fibre diameter or rate of wool growth can prevent reductions in staple strength associated with reproduction.

Wool fibre tenacity and its relationship to staple strength

1992 ◽  
Vol 43 (8) ◽  
pp. 1759 ◽  
Author(s):  
RG Gourdie ◽  
DFG Orwin ◽  
S Ranford ◽  
DA Ross
Keyword(s):  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Breaking Load ◽  
Cross Sectional Area ◽  
Wool Fibre ◽  
Material Strength ◽  
Sectional Area ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significant Relationships ◽  
Staple Strength ◽  
Axial Splitting

Wool fibre tenacity and its relationship to staple strength was studied in a pen-feeding trial of 40 New Zealand Romney ewes. A method for estimating fibre tenacity is described based on normalizing fibre breaking load by cross-sectional area measured on fibre fracture-surfaces. The validity of this protocol was demonstrated by showing that (i) fibre diameter measured at the point of rupture was not significantly (P > 0.05) changed by breaking, and (ii) that the tenacity estimate was not significantly (P > 0.05) correlated with cross-sectional area variation along fibres, and (iii) showed lower fibre-to-fibre variation than other accepted measures of intrinsic material strength. The majority (83.5%) of the 1200 fibres broken in this study cleaved in smooth-planed fractures normal to the long axis of the fibre, the remaining fibres demonstrated axial-splitting following rupture. Tenacity did not differ significantly between the two break-types (P > 0.05). Tenacity demonstrated small negative correlations (P < 0.05) with fibre cross-sectional area and ellipticity. No change in tenacity (P > 0.05) occurred within fine, slow-growing 'wool-break' regions and tenacity did not vary significantly (P < 0.05) between body sites on sheep. Tenacity showed no significant variation (P > 0.05) with differential winter feeding, but significant variations (P < 0.01) of wool tenacity occurred between sheep. The sheepto-sheep differences in tenacity showed significant relationships with two indices of staple strength, work (P < 0.01) and peak-force (P < 0.01). Variability in fibre tenacity between sheep and its relationship to staple strength may provide some explanation of the origin of 'tender' and 'sound' wools.

scholarly journals The wool production and reproduction of Merino ewes can be predicted from changes in liveweight during pregnancy and lactation

2011 ◽  
Vol 51 (9) ◽  
pp. 763 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. B. Ferguson ◽  
A. N. Thompson ◽  
D. J. Gordon ◽  
M. W. Hyder ◽  
G. A. Kearney ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Reproductive Rate ◽  
Breeding Cycle ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Pregnancy And Lactation ◽  
Influence Of Food ◽  
Staple Strength ◽  
Fleece Weight

Defining the nature of the relationship between change in liveweight throughout a breeding cycle and ewe wool production and reproduction would be useful for developing management guidelines for Merino ewes. In this paper we tested the hypotheses that (1) feed on offer has variable effects on liveweight profiles of individual ewes; and (2) liveweight profiles of individual ewes can be used to predict their fleece wool production and reproductive performance. At sites in Victoria and Western Australia in 2001 and 2002, pregnant Merino ewes were exposed to 10 nutritional treatments. In each of the four experiments, ewes in average condition score 3 at artificial insemination were fed to achieve either maintenance or loss of a condition score over the first 100 days of pregnancy before grazing one of five levels of feed on offer between Day 100 and lamb weaning. Across all four experiments, the average difference in ewe liveweight between extreme treatments was: 7.0 kg (range 4.7–8.7 kg) at Day 100 of pregnancy; 11.9 kg (range 4.9–17.8 kg) at lambing; and by weaning was 13.9 kg (range 8.8–22.7 kg). Liveweight at joining and liveweight change during pregnancy and lactation of individual Merino ewes were significantly related to their clean fleece weight, fibre diameter and staple length and thus the second hypothesis was supported. Heavier ewes at joining produced more wool that was longer and broader and this effect was consistent across both sites and years. A 10-kg loss in ewe liveweight between joining and mid pregnancy, mid pregnancy and lambing or during lactation reduced clean fleece weight by 0.4–0.7 kg and fibre diameter by 0.5–1.4 um. At the Victorian site, where ewes were shorn in summer, a loss of 10 kg in liveweight between joining and Day 100 of pregnancy reduced staple strength by 5 N/ktex. As expected the influence of food on offer on changes in ewe liveweight was different between years and sites and between late pregnancy and lactation due to a complex group of pasture and animal factors. Therefore, managing changes in ewe liveweight itself rather than feed on offer will achieve more predictable outcomes. A higher liveweight at joining resulted in a predictable improvement in ewe reproductive rate and liveweight at joining was more important than the liveweight profile leading up to joining. This paper has shown that it is possible to predict the differences in wool production and reproductive rate of flocks of Merino ewes if ewe liveweight records at key times are known.

Changes in plasma amino acid patterns and wool growth during late pregnancy and early lactation in the ewe

1993 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 945 ◽  
Author(s):  
DG Masters ◽  
CA Stewart ◽  
PJ Connell
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Essential Amino Acids ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Pregnancy And Lactation ◽  
Staple Strength ◽  
Animal House ◽  
Limiting Amino Acids

Pregnancy and lactation result in depressed growth, fibre diameter and tensile strength of wool. Competition for nutrients between wool follicles, maternal tissues and the foetus may cause these changes. Changes in the concentrations of individual free amino acids in plasma, during late pregnancy, were used as indicators of limiting amino acids in this experiment. A group of pregnant ewes was maintained in the animal house during late pregnancy and early lactation and measurements made on amino acids in plasma. Liveweight, wool growth and quality characteristics and sulfur in wool were also measured. Comparisons were made between the different time periods in pregnancy and lactation and between the reproducing ewes and a group of non-reproducing ewes maintained under the same conditions. During the last 3 weeks of pregnancy, there was a 31% decline in the concentration of the total, free essential amino acids in plasma. There was also a significant decline in the concentration of arginine (60%), lysine (55%) and threonine (48%). The concentrations of these amino acids increased during the first 3 weeks of lactation. There was no change in concentration of methionine or cystine. Wool growth rate was lowest in the last 3 weeks of pregnancy and the reproducing ewes had significantly lower wool growth, fibre diameter, staple strength and sulfur in wool than the non-reproducing ewes. The results indicate that a lack of the sulfur-containing amino acids is unlikely to be limiting, but a lack of arginine, lysine or threonine may be limiting wool growth and protein deposition in late pregnancy.

Wool growth and fibre diameter changes in young Merino sheep genetically different in staple strength and fed different levels of nutrition

1998 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
pp. 889 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. N. Thompson ◽  
P. I. Hynd
Keyword(s):  
Growth Response ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Genetic Differences ◽  
Rate Of Change ◽  
Total Variance ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Constant Rate ◽  
Rapid Changes ◽  
Staple Strength ◽  
Different Levels

The wool growth response to nutrition by Merino weaners (liveweight 33· 2±0·58 kg) bred for high or low staple strength (SS) and fed to produce changes in liveweight was examined. The hypothesis tested was that genetic differences in SS are associated with differences in along-fibre variation in diameter. Sheep fed to maintain liveweight produced wool at a more constant rate with smaller and less rapid changes in fibre diameter than that produced by sheep which lost and then gained liveweight (P < 0·001). There were significant (P < 0·05) but relatively small differences in wool growth rate and fibre diameter between the SS selection flocks, and wool from sheep selected for high SS had less (P < 0 ·001) variation in diameter between individual fibres than wool from sheep selected for low SS Minimum fibre diameter was most closely associated with SS, accounting for 66% (P < 0·001) of the total variance in SS generated by selective breeding and nutrition. An increase in minimum fibre diameter of 1µm was associated with an increase in SS of about 5 N/ktex. Minimum fibre diameter and the rate of change in fibre diameter to the point of break along the staple collectively accounted for 72% (P < 0·001) of the total variance in SS. Addition of a term for between-fibre variation in diameter measured at the point of break removed an additional 8% (P < 0·001) of the variance in SS. We conclude that the mechanisms responsible for nutritionally induced and genetic differences in SS are not the same. Nutrition influences SS by affecting along-fibre diameter changes, whereas genetic differences in SS, at least as far as they are represented by the flocks used here, are largely attributable to between-fibre variations in diameter. The independence of nutritional and genetic effects on SS means that they should be exploited concurrently to reduce the incidence of tender wool production.

Wool and liveweight responses to nutrition by Merino sheep genetically selected for high or low staple strength

1997 ◽  
Vol 48 (8) ◽  
pp. 1129 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. R. Adams ◽  
J. R. Briegel ◽  
A. J. M. Ritchie
Keyword(s):  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Rate Of Change ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Low Protein ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Good Nutrition ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Staple Strength ◽  
Fleece Weight ◽  
Protein Diets

The biological mechanisms underlying differences in wool staple strength were examined in 2 groups of Merino sheep that have been genetically selected for high or low staple strength, while holding fibre diameter constant. The sheep were fed below maintenance for 87 days, and then re-fed ad libitum for 63 days with a diet containing either 9% or 23% crude protein, in a cross-over design, after which they returned to the paddock until shearing. The fleeces of the 2 groups differed in staple strength (25·2 v.17·5 N/ktex, P < 0·001) but were similar in mean fibre diameter and clean fleece weight. However, the pattern of wool growth was different. When fed below maintenance, sheep from the sound group grew more wool than sheep from the tender group (P < 0·05), but lost more liveweight (P < 0·01). During re-feeding, the sound sheep grew less wool than the tender sheep (P < 0·05), but gained more liveweight. The mean fibre diameter at the point of break was similar in both groups. Immediately after re-feeding, the fibre diameter increased more rapidly in the tender group than in the sound (P < 0·001), but a similar difference was observed between the high and low protein diets, with no effect on staple strength. The sound sheep had a lower standard deviation of fibre diameter than the tender sheep (P < 0·001), both in the whole fleece and in 3-weekly midside patches. The data indicated that the variability of fibre diameter between fibres made a larger contribution than the variability along fibres to the difference between the groups in overall variability of fibre diameter. The sheep were then grazed together at pasture for a second year and again differed in staple strength. In addition, the sound sheep grew less wool on green spring pastures and had a lower clean fleece weight (P < 0·05). The differences in wool growth rates between sheep from the sound and tender lines depended more on whether pasture was green than on the amount of pasture available. We conclude that the difference in staple strength between the sound and tender groups was most closely associated with the variability between fibres in diameter, and was also affected by a difference in variation in diameter along the fibres. Staple strength was not affected by the amount of wool at the point of break, or by the rate of change in fibre diameter after feeding. The sheep in the sound group grew less wool than those in the tender group when on good nutrition.

A walking bout reveals altered foot thermodynamics associated with unilateral transtibial amputation among individuals with type 2 diabetes

2020 ◽  
pp. 030936462096864
Author(s):  
Kyle R Leister ◽  
Shane R Wurdeman
Keyword(s):  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Temperature Change ◽  
Foot Ulcer ◽  
Diabetic Foot Ulcer ◽  
Rate Of Change ◽  
Peak Temperature ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Contralateral Limb ◽  
Transtibial Amputation

Background: Increased foot temperature among individuals with type 2 diabetes can be predictive of diabetic foot ulcer development. A combination of physiological and mechanical deficiencies may contribute to elevations in intact foot temperature during gait for individuals with type 2 diabetes and transtibial amputation. Objective: This study evaluated plantar foot temperature differences between individuals with type 2 diabetes with and without transtibial amputation. We hypothesized that individuals with transtibial amputation maintain increased foot temperature compared to those without amputation. Study Design: Cross-sectional, case control. Methods: A sample of 16 participants with type 2 diabetes and transtibial amputation, and 16 age- and sex-matched participants with type 2 diabetes without amputation were recruited. Foot temperatures were measured during resting, walking, and cooldown periods. Peak temperature, mean temperature, and rate of temperature change were analyzed for each period, and compared between cohorts. Results: Participants with amputation exhibited increased mean foot temperature while at rest and during walking. Participants without amputation exhibited increased rate of change of foot temperature during walking. No differences in peak temperature or rate of temperature change were observed during the baseline or cooldown periods. Conclusion: The current findings of altered foot temperature for individuals with transtibial amputation and type 2 diabetes suggest a possible reason for the high rates of contralateral limb ulceration and amputation among this population.

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