dc.contributor |
Friend, M A |
|
dc.contributor |
Robards, G E |
|
dc.date.accessioned |
2012-03-08T00:37:54Z |
|
dc.date.available |
2012-03-08T00:37:54Z |
|
dc.date.issued |
2005 |
|
dc.identifier.uri |
http://livestocklibrary.com.au/handle/1234/31282 |
|
dc.description.abstract |
Merino wethers with a high (fleece plus, Fl+) or low (fleece minus, Fl?) potential for wool growth were offered a restricted intake of either oat grain or lucerne chaff for 8 weeks followed by ad libitum lucerne chaff for 4 weeks. The Fl? sheep that were fed oats then lucerne had a lower (P < 0.05) intake during the first 2 weeks of ad libitum feeding than all other groups. Staple strength of Fl+ sheep (37.5 � 2.2 N/ktex) was less (P < 0.05) than that of Fl? sheep (44.5 � 2.4 N/ktex), and dietary treatment did not significantly affect staple strength. Wool growth rate was unaffected by dietary treatment, but was greater (P < 0.001) for Fl+ (6.4 � 0.2 �g/mm2.day) than for Fl? (4.0 � 0.2 �g/mm2.day) sheep. Along-fibre variation in diameter was greater (P < 0.001) in Fl+ (15.6 � 0.5%) than in Fl? (9.9 � 0.5%) sheep. Between-fibre variation in diameter was greater (P < 0.001) in Fl+ (16.5 � 0.5%) than in Fl? (13.2 � 0.5%) sheep, and between-fibre variation in diameter was affected (P < 0.05) by dietary treatment in Fl+ sheep. Staple strength was significantly correlated (P < 0.05) with along-fibre variation in diameter (r = ?0.48), and stepwise regression analysis indicated that along-fibre variation in diameter, wool growth rate during early restricted feeding, and minimum fibre diameter explained 63% of the variance in staple strength. The results are discussed in relation to the lower staple strength of Fl+ sheep. |
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dc.publisher |
CSIRO |
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dc.source.uri |
http://www.publish.csiro.au/?act=view_file&file_id=AR04134.pdf |
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dc.subject |
Merino, fibre diameter, feed intake. |
|
dc.title |
Fibre diameter and staple strength of sheep selected for divergent clean fleece weight when subjected to an increase in intake or an increase in intake and diet change |
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dc.type |
Research |
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dc.description.version |
Journal article |
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dc.identifier.volume |
56 |
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dc.identifier.page |
195-201 |
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dc.identifier.issue |
2 |
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