The Fleece of Wiltshire × Wensleydale Sheep

Abstract

AbstractThe coat of 16 Wiltshire × Wensleydale lambs was investigated and all were woolly, with no halo hairs on the back. The bulk of the coat consisted of curly-tip fibres, and most lambs had Valley (8) or Plain (6) fibre-type arrays, only two having Ravine arrays.There was little difference in diameter between the primary and secondary fibres in the skin, and some evidence of ‘checking’ in the central primaries. The secondary/primary follicle ratio of 4·26 compared with a mid-parent value of 4·5. There was less latticed medullation in the crossbreds than in the Wiltshire.The adult fleeces were visually similar to those of the Wensleydale and were intermediate in weight and staple length between the parent breeds. These findings could have practical application in the improvement of ‘hair’ sheep, in that a first cross with the Wensleydale would have a fleece of medium wool lacking hair or kemp.