Abstract:
This paper reports the results of a comparison trial between the on-farm testing technologies, Sirolan FLEECESCAN and OFDA2000, and commercial laboratory testing for the measurement of Mean Fibre Diameter (MFD) of individual animals. The trial was conducted on a commercial property at Mingenew, Western Australia, using the same 99 ewe hoggets. The 95% confidence limit for the measurement of a greasy staple from the hipbone using the OFDA2000 was 0.57 micron. For the FLEECESCAN, the 95% confidence limit for the measurement of the MFD of a whole fleece was 0.88 micron. A comparison in the ranking of fleeces on MFD was made between the on-farm tests, and an accurate and precise estimate based on 8 individual measurements per fleece in the laboratory. The FLEECESCAN was found to be the best instrument for ranking fleeces on MFD, whereas, the OFDA2000 had a similar precision to conventional laboratory testing. The results confirm that the onfarm testing technologies are sufficiently precise to be used as a tool for ranking sheep on MFD.