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The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Spirulina supplementation, sire breed and sex on the wool characteristics of purebred and crossbred Merino weaned lambs under a single pasture-based management system. Lambs sired by Merino, White Suffolk, Dorset, Black Suffolk breeds were randomly allocated into 3 treatments – the control group grazing without Spirulina (0 mL), low (100 mL) and high (200 mL) Spirulina groups. All lambs were kept as a single mob in paddocks, grazed for 9 weeks and wool samples analysed. Differences in wool quality between the control and supplemented groups were not significant (P>0.05). However, sire breed significantly (P<0.001) influenced fibre diameter, spinning fineness, comfort factor and fibre curvature with purebred Merinos having superior wool quality than crossbreds. Wethers grew higher quality wool than ewes. Spirulina has a potential as an alternative supplementary bioresource in dual-purpose sheep feeding because it does not compromise wool quality in supplemented weaner lambs.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	Spirulina, wool quality, Merino cross-bred, supplementation, dual purpose
Research Division:	Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
Research Group:	Animal Production
Research Field:	Animal Breeding
Objective Division:	Animal Production and Animal Primary Products
Objective Group:	Livestock Raising
Objective Field:	Sheep - Wool
UTAS Author:	Holman, BWB (Mr Benjamin Holman)
UTAS Author:	Kashani, A (Mr Arash Kashani)
UTAS Author:	Malau-Aduli, AEO (Associate Professor Aduli Malau-Aduli)
ID Code:	73381
Year Published:	2014
Web of Science® Times Cited:	2
Deposited By:	Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture
Deposited On:	2011-09-29
Last Modified:	2017-09-15
Downloads:	351 View Download Statistics