Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2brh9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T15:17:03.859Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The wool growth response to the annual cycle of grazing intake in Cheviot wethers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

J. M. Doney
Affiliation:
Hill Farming Eesearch Organization, 29 Lauder Road, Edinburgh 9
J. Eadie
Affiliation:
Hill Farming Eesearch Organization, 29 Lauder Road, Edinburgh 9

Extract

Wool-growth rates were measured at monthly intervals on eight free-grazing Cheviot wethers. Nutrient intakes provided by the upland environment were measured at the same intervals during the 2½ years. Analysis of periodic regression disclosed that both intake and wool growth had similar seasonal cycles but were slightly out of phase. It was concluded that the similarity was largely due to the relationship of both characters with some independent seasonal variable. The seasonal cycle of efficiency of wool growth depends on the time relationship between its two components, but it was found that variation amongst sheep in wool production was greater in the summer months and this depended more on variation in overall efficiency than on variation in grazing intake.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1967

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bliss, C. I. (1958). Periodic regression in biology and climatology. Conn. Agric. Expt. St. Bull. p. 615.Google Scholar
Doney, J. M. (1966). Breed differences in responses of wool growth to nutritional and climatic cycles. J. agric. Sd., Gamb. 67, 2530.Google Scholar
Doney, J. M. & Smith, W. F. (1961). The fleece of the Scottish Blackface sheep. I. Seasonal changes in wool production and fleece structure. J. agric. Sci., Gamb. 56, 365–74.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ferguson, K. L. (1962). The relation between the responses of wool growth and body weight to changes in feed intake. Aust. J. biol. Sci. 15, 720–31.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hutchinson, J. C. D. (1965). Photoperiodie control of the annual rhythm of wool growth. Biology of the Skin and Hair Growth. (Ed. Lyne, A. G., & Short, B. F.). No. 341, p. 565574. Sydney: Angus and Robertson.Google Scholar
Mcmanus, W. R., Arnold, G. W. & Dudzinski, M. L. (1966). Studies in the wool production of grazing sheep. 4. Variation between sheep in intake, wool production and efficiency. Aust. J. exp. Agric. Anim. Husb. 6, 96100.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Williams, A. J. (1966). The efficiency of conversion of feed to wool during limited and unlimited feeding of flocks selected on clean fleece weight. Aust. J. exp. Agric. Anim. Husb. 6, 9095.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Williams, O. B. & Schinckel, P. G. (1962). Seasonal variations in wool growth and live-weight in several environments. Proc. Atist. Soc. Anim. Prod. 4, 3845.Google Scholar