Changes in fibre and follicle characteristics related to wool
bulk during the lifetime of Perendale ewes.
R.M.W. Sumner and J.L. Dick
AgResearch, Whatawhata Research Centre, Private Bag 3089,
Hamilton.
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1997,
57: 65-69
Wool and skin samples were collected annually at hogget shearing
in October and thereafter in July for a further four shearings, from a
total of 32 Perendale ewes born in 1990 and 1991 within lines selected
for or against wool bulk. Time to form a crimp, follicle curvature and
the proportion of para-meso cortical cells, increased towards an
asymptote with increasing age. Proportion of fibres with a bilateral
arrangement of cortical cells was maximal at 2 years of age and clean
fleece weight, staple length and fibre diameter were maximal at 3 years
of age. Fibre curvature decreased linearly, crimp frequency and follicle
length decreased curvilinearly but wool bulk did not change with
increasing age. The repeatability of individual characteristics
decreased with increasing age. There was no significant difference in
the relationship between core bulk and a combination of fibre curvature,
fibre diameter and fibre diameter variation within each age group.
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
wool bulk; age; fibre characteristics; follicle
characteristics; Perendale.
Last Updated 12-09-1998
