The relationship between wool follicle density and fibre
diameter is curvilinear
D.R. Scobie and S.R. Young
AgResearch Lincoln, P.O. Box 60, Lincoln, New Zealand
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production.
2000 60: 162-165
Records for wool follicle density and wool fibre diameter were
obtained from ewes (n=787) of 13 breeds and lambs (n=543) of eight
breeds and four crossbred combinations. The data were gathered as part
of nine separate experiments from seven years. Mean fibre diameter
ranged between 14 and 58 mm, while follicle density covered the range
6.5 to 95 follicles/mm 2 . There was a significant curvilinear
relationship (P<0.001) between individual animal means for fibre
diameter and follicle density. The relationship was significantly
different between ewes and lambs (P<0.001). Furthermore, the
relationship between breed means for density and diameter were compared
with equivalent data from literature sources. The relationship was
effectively the same for all sources of data (P=0.455). A restricted
range of data could have led some literature sources to suggest a linear
relationship!
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
skin; sheep breeds; Merino; Romney; feral sheep
Last Updated 12-07-2000
