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Wool comfort factor variation in Australian crossbred sheep
Citation
Malau-Aduli, AEO and Deng Akuoch, DJ, Wool comfort factor variation in Australian crossbred sheep, Journal of Animal Science, 88, (E-Supplement 2) pp. 860 Abstr.. ISSN 0021-8812 (2010) [Contribution to Refereed Journal]
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Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2010 ASAS.
Abstract
Comfort factor (CF) is defined as the percentage of wool fibers with
diameter less than 30 microns. Our objective was to investigate the
effects of sire genetics, nutrition, level of supplementation and gender
and their interactions on CF in crossbred sheep either grazing or
supplemented with dietary protein. Correlations between CF and other
wool traits were also investigated. Texel, Coopworth, White Suffolk,
East-Friesian and Dorset sires were mated with 500 Merino ewes at a
ratio of 1:100 in individual paddocks. Five hundred of the crossbreds
were raised on pasture until weaning at 12 weeks of age. Forty of the
weaners with initial BW range of 23-31 kg (average of 27 ± 3.2 kg)
were fed with lupins or canola at 1 or 2% BW for 6 weeks in a 5 × 2
× 2 × 2 factorial experimental design. CF and other wool quality traits
were commercially measured at the Australian Wool Testing Authority.
Data were analyzed in SAS using MIXED models procedures with sire
fitted as a random effect, whereas sire breed, nutrition, supplement,
level of supplementation and gender and their interactions were fitted
as fixed effects. We found that neither supplement (P > 0.14) nor level
of supplementation (P > 0.16) influenced CF which did not differ
between pasture-fed and supplemented sheep. However, highly significant
effects of sire breed (P < 0.01), gender (P < 0.01) and interactions
between sire breed × level of supplementation (P < 0.01), sire breed
× gender (P < 0.03) and supplement × level of supplementation (P <
0.01) on CF were detected. White Suffolk crosses had the highest CF
(90.1 ± 8.7%) and East-Friesian crosses the least (81.5±10.1%). Males
fed canola at 1%BW had the highest CF (90.8 ± 7.0%), while females
fed lupins at 1%BW had the least (81.1 ± 10.8). White Suffolk sired
males ranked the highest (91.1 ± 10.5%) and East Friesian females the
least (74.7 ± 7.9%). CF was significantly correlated with fiber diameter
(−0.89), spinning fineness (−0.95) and wool curvature (0.33). Our findings
provide useful information to sheep farmers in crossbreeding dual
purpose sheep that will also deliver desirable wool comfort outcomes
to the fabric industry.
Item Details
Item Type: | Contribution to Refereed Journal |
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Keywords: | wool comfort factor, pasture-fed sheep, protein supplements |
Research Division: | Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences |
Research Group: | Animal production |
Research Field: | Animal reproduction and breeding |
Objective Division: | Animal Production and Animal Primary Products |
Objective Group: | Livestock raising |
Objective Field: | Sheep for wool |
UTAS Author: | Malau-Aduli, AEO (Associate Professor Aduli Malau-Aduli) |
ID Code: | 63681 |
Year Published: | 2010 |
Deposited By: | Agricultural Science |
Deposited On: | 2010-05-21 |
Last Modified: | 2010-08-02 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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