The effects of winter grazing systems on some wool characteristics

C.T. Horton and G.A. Wickham

Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Whangarei and Massey University, Palmerston North

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1979, 39: 106-114

Five different grazing systems were analysed with respect to weight of wool produced, fibre diameter, fibre length, quality number, character, staple length, crimp frequency, handle, lustre, soundness, tippiness, colour, cotting, and tensile strength for 5 groups of 21 pregnant New Zealand Romney ewes.

Treatments had a highly significant effect (P<0.001) on weight of wool produced per unit area of skin, fibre diameter, tensile strength, and soundness.

Forage cross (swedes) grazing was associated with lower feed intake and produced wool of reduced fibre diameter, fibre length, lower tensile strength and soundness, and less total wool per unit area than pasture grazing treatments.

Differences were found between rotational grazing and set-stocking, but neither was better over all characters assessed.

Keywords: NZSAPAB;

Last Updated 12-09-1998