Selenium fertilizers for pastures grazed by sheep. 2. Wool and liveweight responses to selenium

1994 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 877 ◽  
Author(s):  
BR Whelan ◽  
NJ Barrow ◽  
DW Peter
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Plasma Concentration ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Whole Blood ◽  
Slow Release ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Selenium Deficiency ◽  
Wool Fibre ◽  
Wool Production

Two forms of selenium fertilizer, Na2 Se04 (quick release) and BaSe04 (slow release), prepared by Mintech of New Zealand, were applied in 1987 to pasture at Bakers Hill in Western Australia at 10 g Se ha-1. Merino wethers grazing the pasture over the following 3 years had significant increases in liveweight and wool production even though the control sheep showed no clinical symptoms of selenium deficiency. Sheep treated with selenium intra-ruminal pellets that also grazed the selenium-fertilized pasture showed no signs of toxicity and also had significant increases in liveweight and wool production. There was no significant increase in wool fibre diameter from the selenium treatments. Responses to blood selenium indicated that whole blood selenium should be maintained at a minimum value of 60 8g Se L-1 or a minimum plasma concentration of 40 8g Se L-1 to avoid subclinical selenium deficiency.

scholarly journals Improving the nutrition of Merino ewes during pregnancy increases the fleece weight and reduces the fibre diameter of their progeny's wool during their lifetime and these effects can be predicted from the ewe's liveweight profile

2011 ◽  
Vol 51 (9) ◽  
pp. 794 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. N. Thompson ◽  
M. B. Ferguson ◽  
D. J. Gordon ◽  
G. A. Kearney ◽  
C. M. Oldham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Opposite Effect ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Pregnancy And Lactation ◽  
Fleece Weight ◽  
Poor Nutrition

Nutrition of ewes during pregnancy can have permanent impacts on the production potential of their progeny. The hypothesis tested in the experiments reported in this paper was that improving the nutrition of Merino ewes during pregnancy and lactation increases the fleece weight and reduces the fibre diameter of their progeny’s wool during their lifetime. In addition, that these effects on the progeny’s wool production can be predicted from the ewe’s liveweight profile. At sites in Victoria and Western Australia in each of 2 years, a wide range in the liveweight and condition score profiles of Merino ewes was generated by varying the amount of supplements fed from joining to Day 100 of pregnancy and the amount of feed on offer grazed from Day 100 to weaning. The site in Victoria was based on perennial pastures and included both single- and twin-bearing ewes whereas the site in Western Australia was based on annual pastures and included single-bearing ewes only. The production and characteristics of wool from the progeny were measured until 51 months of age at the site in Victoria and 33 months of age at the site in Western Australia. The nutritional treatments and the resulting changes in ewe liveweight had significant impacts on the fleece weight and to a lesser extent the fibre diameter of wool produced by their progeny, but there were no consistent effects on other characteristics of progeny fleece wool. The fleece weight of the progeny was related to the liveweight change during pregnancy of their mothers (P < 0.05) and the relationships were similar for the two experiments at each site. At the site in Victoria, a loss of 10 kg in ewe liveweight between joining and Day 100 of pregnancy reduced fleece weight by ~0.2 kg at each shearing until 51 months of age whereas gaining 10 kg from Day 100 of pregnancy to lambing had the opposite effect. The effect of changes in ewe liveweight during late pregnancy on the fleece weight of their progeny at each shearing was of similar magnitude at the site in Western Australia. When evident, the effect of the ewe liveweight profile on the fibre diameter of progeny wool was opposite to the effect on clean fleece weight and the effect of poor nutrition in early to mid pregnancy could be completely overcome by improving nutrition during late pregnancy. Twin-born and reared progeny produced ~0.3 kg less clean wool at each shearing (P < 0.001) that was 0.3-μm broader (P < 0.001) than that from single-born progeny at the site in Victoria. However, the effects of varying ewe nutrition and ewe liveweight change during pregnancy on fleece weight and fibre diameter of progeny wool were similar (P > 0.05) for both single- and twin-born or reared progeny. Overall, these results supported our hypothesis and it is clear that the nutritional management of Merino ewes during pregnancy is important for optimal wool production from their progeny during their lifetime.

Assessing Wiltshire Horn-Merino crosses. 1. Wool shedding, blowfly strike and wool production traits

1994 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 717 ◽  
Author(s):  
KA Rathie ◽  
ML Tierney ◽  
JC Mulder
Keyword(s):  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
The Other ◽  
Wool Fibre ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Phenotypic Correlations ◽  
Fleece Weight ◽  
Head Neck

Wiltshire Horn-Merino (WH-M) crosses of 1/2, 5/8 and 3/4 Merino content were compared over 10 years for wool shedding, blowfly strike frequency and wool production traits. Merinos and 1/2 Merino WH-M were compared over 4 years. For wool production traits, 1/2 and 5/8 Merino WH-M ewes were compared to Border Leicester-Merino (BL-M) ewes over 2 years. Shedding increased with age for all WH-M genotypes, with 3/4 Merinos showing less shedding than 1/2 Merinos at all ages. At 1 and 2 years of age, 5/8 Merinos were intermediate between the other 2 WH-M genotypes, but at later ages they were similar to 1/2 Merinos. All genotypes showed less shedding at the belly site than the head, neck and breech as lambs, but not at older ages. Phenotypic correlations between sites on the same sheep were high, averaging 0.85. Repeatability estimates for each site ranged from 0.26 to 0.45. Shedding increased most with age in the 1/2 Merinos, and least in the 3/4 Merinos. Little or no shoulder and back wool was shed by most sheep. All 1/2 and 5/8 Merinos and most 3/4 Merinos had bare legs and points. Blowfly strike incidence was far higher in Merinos than 1/2 Merinos, in all years. Among WH-M, blowfly strike incidence increased as Merino content increased, in all years. All WH-M were far inferior to both Merinos and BL-M in total greasy wool weight and all its components, and also in clean fleece weight, with their level of inferiority increasing as their Merino content declined. Wool fibre diameter for all WH-M was coarser than for Merinos, but was a little finer than for BL-M. Fibre diameter increased in the WH-M as their Merino content declined. All WH-M had lower wool yields than the Merinos or BL-M. In some years the 314 Merinos had lower wool yields than the 1/2 and 5/8 Merinos, which were similar in all years. Shedding caused numerous genotype x age interactions in wool weight and its components, as Merinos and BL-M did not shed, and with the WH-M shedding increased most with age in the 1/2 Merinos, and least in the 3/4 Merinos. Due to preferential shedding from the belly and other low-value areas, the WH-M inferiority in total wool weight was less severe for fleece weight. Winter shearing succeeded in harvesting some wool from WH-M that would be shed before a summer shearing, but not enough to alter rankings among genotypes. All WH-M genotypes have wool too coarse, and not enough of it, to compete as a wool sheep with the Merino at current wool prices under usual Australian pastoral conditions. In areas where mustering is difficult or blowfly strike unusually severe, WH-M genotypes may find a niche.

Grazing management of native pastures in the New England region of New South Wales. I. Pasture and sheep production with special reference to systems of grazing and internal parasites

1959 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 530 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Roe ◽  
WH Southcott ◽  
HN Turner
Keyword(s):  
New England ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Wool Fibre ◽  
Maximum Diameter ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Parasitic Infestation ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Skeletal Size ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Sheep Production

In a 4-year grazing experiment with Merino sheep, on a native pasture dominated by Bothriochloa ambigua S.T. Blake, three rates of stocking and continuous v. rotational grazing were compared. The effects of these treatments on the forage available and the botanical composition of the pasture and on sheep liveweights, size of sheep, wool production, wool fibre diameter, and parasitic infestation, both with and without drenching with phenothiazine, mere studied. The effects of seasonal conditions on the above and on the chemical composition of the pasture were also recorded. No consistently significant differences between grazing treatments in their effects on the pasture or on sheep liveweights or parasitic infestation were recorded, although during the final 3 years the total forage available was less under heavy stocking. Seasonal variations in total forage mere not marked, but, production of green forage increased greatly in the spring and declined to a very low level during winter. Similarly, sheep liveweights increased during spring and summer and declined in the winter. These liveweight changes were significantly correlated with the amount of green forage available. Wool fibre diameter showed similar seasonal fluctuations but the maximum diameter was attained earlier than maximum liveweight. Coincident with a spring rise in the amount of green forage there was also an increase in the percentages of crude protein and phosphorus in the green components of the pasture. Liveweight gains of the drenched sheep were significantly greater from the beginning of each experimental year in the late spring (November) to late winter (August) in all stocking treatments. In the spring, when the quality of the pasture improved and worm egg counts were low, drenching had no effect on liveweight gains in three out of four years. Drenching also significantly improved wool production and resulted in an increase in skeletal size of sheep in three out of four years. Drenching reduced egg counts of the parasites Oesophagostomum spp. and Haemonchus contortus (Rudolphi) Cobb but was less effective against Trichostrongylus-Ostertagia spp. For all grazing treatments there was no significant difference in the amount of wool produced per head, but over the 4-year period 56 per cent. more wool per acre was produced from the heavy than from the light rate of stocking.

scholarly journals Variation in <i>KRTAP6-1</i> affects wool fibre diameter in New Zealand Romney ewes

2019 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 509-515 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenhao Li ◽  
Hua Gong ◽  
Huitong Zhou ◽  
Jiqing Wang ◽  
Shaobin Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Wool Fibre ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Genotype Effect ◽  
Single Stranded Conformational Polymorphism ◽  
Tan Sheep ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Fibre Traits ◽  
Breed Sheep

Abstract. Variation in KRTAP6-1 has been reported to affect wool fibre traits in Merino cross-breed sheep and Chinese Tan sheep, but little is known about whether these effects persist in other breeds. In this study, variation in KRTAP6-1 was investigated in 290 New Zealand (NZ) Romney ewes sired by 16 different rams. Polymerase chain reaction single-stranded conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis revealed four variants (A, B, E and F) of KRTAP6-1, and nine genotypes (AA, AB, AE, AF, BB, BE, BF, EE and FF) in these ewes. Among the 243 ewes that had genotypes with a frequency of over 5 % (i.e. AA, AB and BB), the presence of A was found to be associated with reduced mean fibre diameter (MFD) and increased coefficient of variation in fibre diameter (CVFD), whereas the presence of B had a trend of association with decreased coarse edge measurement (CEM). A genotype effect was also detected for MFD and CVFD. No associations were detected for fibre diameter standard deviation (FDSD), mean fibre curvature (MFC) and medulation. These results suggest that variation in KRTAP6-1 affects wool fibre diameter in NZ Romney ewes, confirming the finding in Merino cross-breed sheep.

Vitamin E treatment of weaner sheep. II. The effect of vitamin E responsive subclinical myopathy on liveweight and wool production

1996 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. 869 ◽  
Author(s):  
JM Fry ◽  
MC McGrath ◽  
M Harvey ◽  
EJ Speijers
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin E ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Selenium Deficiency ◽  
Economic Loss ◽  
Clinical Disease ◽  
Vitamin E Deficiency ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Subclinical Disease ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Significant Difference

Nutritional myopathy occurs as both a clinical and subclinical disease in weaner sheep in Western Australia during summer and autumn. The effect of subclinical nutritional myopathy (SCNM), caused by vitamin E deficiency or combined vitamin E and selenium deficiency, on liveweight and wool was investigated. During the period of SCNM there was no significant difference in liveweight gain in sheep with and without the disease in any of the experiments. Initial liveweight in one experiment was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in sheep that were to develop SCNM during the course of the experiment. In vitamin E deficient-selenium adequate SCNM, there was no difference in wool growth over the period of the disease and no differences in any of the wool measurements at shearing. At 2 sites, the greasy and clean fleece weights were significantly (P < 0.05) greater in a group of sheep diagnosed with more severe SCNM compared with sheep without SCNM. It was concluded that unlike the clinical disease, SCNM was unlikely to cause any economic loss.

Effects of defaunation of the rumen and supplementation with amino acids on the wool production of housed Saxon Merinos. 4. Cottonseed meal, analogues of methionine and avoparcin

1988 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 707 ◽  
Author(s):  
DJ Cottle
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Cottonseed Meal ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Wool Fibre ◽  
Growth Responses ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Fleece Weight ◽  
Ciliate Protozoa

Ten groups, each of 6 superfine Merino wethers were individually penned indoors and hand-fed at maintenance level a ration of 70% oats and 30% chopped lucerne hay (w/w). The groups of sheep were fed 3 different supplementary pellets rotationally during three 9-week periods. Each group received 3 of the following 7 pellets: (1) control, (2) cottonseed meal (CSM), (3) CSM plus hydroxymethyl-methionine (MEP), (4) CSM plus methionine hydroxy analogue (MHA), (5) CSM plus avoparcin (AV), (6) CSM plus MEP plus AV, and (7) CSM plus MHA plus AV. The rations were offered 3 times a week. Half of the sheep had no rumen ciliate protozoa. Wool production was measured during the 7-month period. Defaunation resulted in a 6.9% increase in greasy fleece weight and a 7.7% increase in clean wool production. Average wool fibre diameter increased by 0.6 pm in defaunated sheep. The clean wool growth responses compared with sheep fed the control pellets were 4, 5, 12, 0, 3 and 9% respectively for sheep fed pellets 2-7. The most cost-effective supplement was the CSM plus MHA pellet, which increased clean wool production by 0.5 glday compared with sheep fed the CSM pellet but did not significantly affect wool quality. It was concluded that supplements containing MHA could be economically fed to housed superfine Merino wethers ('Sharlea'), but MHA appears to be relatively inefficient in supplying methionine to the intestines.

Nitrogen utilization and wool production by sheep

1961 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 335 ◽  
Author(s):  
PJ Reis ◽  
PG Schinckel
Keyword(s):  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Nitrogen Retention ◽  
Nitrogen Excretion ◽  
Wool Fibre ◽  
Gradual Change ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Stable Level ◽  
Nitrogen Intake ◽  
Urinary Nitrogen Excretion ◽  
Urinary Nitrogen

The utilization of nitrogen was examined in sheep fed several diets; in some experiments the diet was supplemented with soluble casein given directly into the abomasum through a fistula. Casein supplements per abomasum were almost completely digested and absorbed. At the highest level of casein supplementation (55 g casein nitrogen per day) 95% of the casein was digested and absorbed. An increase in nitrogen intake resulted in an immediate increase in nitrogen balance, followed by a gradual return towards a stable level. There was also an immediate response of faecal and urinary nitrogen excretion to a change in nitrogen intake. Most of the adjustment in urinary nitrogen excretion occurred within 4 days, this period being followed by a gradual change towards a stable level of excretion during the next 6 weeks. Much higher levels of nitrogen retention were obtained from casein administered per abomasum than from similar levels of nitrogen given per os. Changes in wool production also occurred following changes in the nitrogen intake per 0s. The observed changes were variable, depending on the sheep and the feed change involved, and periods of up to 10 weeks were required before the rate of wool production became stable following a change in nutrition. Casein supplementation per abomasum resulted in a substantial increase in wool production and in a rapid increase in wool fibre diameter; most of the increase in fibre diameter occurred in the first week of supplementation. The efficiency of conversion of dietary nitrogen into wool nitrogen was much higher in experiments where a casein supplement was administered per abomasum than in experiments involving normal feeding; possible reasons for this difference are discussed.

Subclinical selenium insufficiency. 1. Selenium status and the response in liveweight and wool production of grazing ewes supplemented with selenium

1991 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
JP Langlands ◽  
GE Donald ◽  
JE Bowles ◽  
AJ Smith
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Whole Blood ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Selenium Status ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Seasonal Trends ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Se Status

Fine wool Merino and Border Leicester x Merino ewes grazed improved pastures low in selenium (Se) for 4 years at 6.3 and 12.5 sheep/ha; half of the ewes were supplemented with Se given as an intra-ruminal pellet. Selenium status of the ewes was monitored from Se concentrations in whole blood and plasma, and wool production, fibre diameter and liveweight were recorded. The unsupplemented ewes showed no overt signs of Se insufficiency; Se status was consistently low; and Se supplementation increased wool production and fibre diameter. Selenium status was lower in unsupplemented ewes grazed at the higher stocking rate and in ewes supporting a lamb; it showed seasonal trends and was negatively correlated with rainfall. Selenium concentrations in whole blood but not in plasma were lower in Merino than in Border Leicester x Merino ewes. Data relating to reproductive performance and the productivity of the lambs are presented in accompanying reports.

The effect of birth status on the level and efficiency of wool production by new zealand corriedale two-tooth rams and ewes

1982 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 309-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. G. Butler
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Fibre Length ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Individual Values ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Diameter Fibre ◽  
Valid Comparison ◽  
Maintain Body Weight

ABSTRACTForty-four single- and twin-born New Zealand Corriedale two-tooth ewes and rams aged 14 months were fed individually, in pens, a pelleted ration adjusted to maintain body weight after allowing for wool growth. The sheep were fed for a 3-month settling period, followed by a 3-month experimental period, during which wool growth, fibre diameter, fibre length and net efficiency of wool growth were measured.Since the wool-growth cycles of the two sexes were found to be out of phase, a valid comparison of the sex data was not possible. Such phase differences may be important in some experimental designs. Significant sex by birth status interactions were identified for all wool production parameters except fibre length, confirming that care must be taken in assigning correction factors during selection of rams and ewes. The general trend was for single-born ewes to produce more and coarser wool more efficiently than twin-born ewes, while the differences between single- and twin-born rams were much smaller. Single-born animals were heavier than twin-born (P<0·01).Individual values for wool growth and net efficiency varied by a factor of three within sex groups, indicating a considerable scope for selection

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document