Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production.
1983, 43: 73-78
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production.
1983, 43: 73-78
Tender fleeces are on average lighter than sound fleeces and often have other associated faults such as cotting and yellow discolouration. Variation in minimum winter fibre diameter accounts for only about 40% of the variation in staple strength within a flock suggesting that factors other than fibre diameter may be involved. There are fibre structural and compositional differences between sound and tender wools of the same diameter and these may be associated with fleece tenderness.
The wool producer can influence the incidence of fleece tenderness by the level of feeding during mid pregnancy but it may not always be economic to feed better. Choice of shearing time will also influence the level of fleece tenderness.
A preliminary estimate of the heritability of fleece tenderness of 0.58 ± 0.15 indicates that it would respond rapidly to selection. Where the price differential between sound and tender wools is small it may not be economic to select for fleece soundness.
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
