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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Dubois, Idaho » Range Sheep Production Efficiency Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #339607
Title: Wool characteristics of Rambouillet, Polypay, and Romanov-White Dorper x Rambouillet ewes in an extensive rangeland production system

Author
item STEWART, WHITNEY - Montana State University
item THOMAS, MURPHY - Montana State University
item NOTTER, DAVID - Virginia Polytechnic Institution & State University
item Mousel, Michelle
item LEWIS, GREGORY - Retired ARS Employee
item LEYMASTER, KREG - Retired ARS Employee
item Taylor, Joshua - Bret

Submitted to: Western Section of Animal Science Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/2/2017
Publication Date: 6/1/2017
Citation: Stewart, W.C., Thomas, M.W., Notter, D.R., Mousel, M.R., Lewis, G.S., Leymaster, K.A., Taylor, J.B. 2017. Wool characteristics of Rambouillet, Polypay, and Romanov-White Dorper x Rambouillet ewes in an extensive rangeland production system. Western Section of Animal Science Proceedings. 65:175-179. https://www.asas.org/docs/default-source/western-section/asasws_western_book_060217.pdf?sfvrsn=e72946d1_0

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The objectives of this study were to quantify and compare wool characteristics in Rambouillet (RA), Polypay (PP), and Romanov-White Dorper x Rambouillet (RW-RA) ewes under extensive rangeland management conditions. Side samples were collected from 678 ewes at 1 and 4 yr of age and objective fiber characteristics were measured on a total of 1,074 samples. Four-yr-old Rambouillet ewes had heavier clean fleeces (P < 0.01) than 4-yr-old PP and RW-RA ewes, which were not different (P > 0.45). Within 1- and 4-yr-olds, RA fleeces were finest (20.1 ± 0.11 µm and 21.9 ± 0.14 µm, respectively), RW-RA fleeces were intermediate (22.9 ± 0.11 µm and 24.9 ± 0.13 µm), and PP fleeces were coarsest (24.3 ± 0.11 µm and 26.8 ± 0.14 µm), (P < 0.01). Standard deviation of fiber diameter was lowest in 1- and 4-yr-old RA fleeces (4.21 ± 0.09 µm and 4.15 ± 0.10 µm, respectively), intermediate in PP (5.16 ± 0.08 µm and 5.19 ± 0.10 µm), and greatest in RW-RA (7.05 ± 0.08 µm and 6.55 ± 0.09 µm), (P < 0.01). Breed types within age differed (P < 0.01) in curvature; RA wool had the largest values, PP wool was intermediate, and RW-RA wool had the smallest values. Wool from RW-RA ewes had more kemp and more medullated fibers (P < 0.01) than wool from RA and PP ewes, which were not different (P > 0.95). Results indicated superior wool production and most desirable quality characteristics for RA ewes compared to coarser, more variable wool produced by PP and RW-RA ewes. Higher proportions of kemp and medullated fibers were found in in RW-RA fleeces, but these fleeces were estimated to be within acceptable thresholds for a given micron range and, under conditions similar to this study, would be marketable.