Young Wool Scientist Wins Award

NZSAP May 1996: Young Scientist Award The following is a reprint from the AgResearch staff news (the article has also been published in several other forums as well). The wide dissemination of such information amply demonstrates the value to the Society and to the young scientists themselves of this awars as a means of raising the profile of agricultural science and benefits all with NZSAP membership. Congratulations Janine.

AgResearch wool research Associate Janine Dick has won the New Zealand Society of Animal Production Young Members Award.

The award bestowed on a society member under 35 who is presenting their first or second paper, was given at the Societyís annual conference in Hamilton recently. One of six finalists, Janine was given the award for her presentation on the development of follicle and fibre characteristics related to wool bulk in young Perendale sheep. Results from this research enable the prediction of wool bulk in an adult sheep to be assessed in lambs about six months of age. The methods use a fibre curvature measurement recently developed in Australia.

Janine has been working in the Biology of Wool Characteristics Programme at AgResearch Whatawhata since February 1994. Her work is on wool bulk in crossbred sheep, and involves studying wool fibre characteristics and the morphology of wool follicles in the skin.

The aim of this work is to understand the characteristics of wool and skin that relate to fleece weight and bulk, so sheep with these genetic traits can be recognised early in life. Wool processors have identified that improving the bulk of New Zealand crossbred wool is important for the superior performance of manufactured products like carpet.