Factors differentiating between high and low wool producing sheep in western Queensland

Abstract

Four experiments were carried out to examine factors which may influence the phenotypic expression of wool growth. High wool producing sheep (HPS) and low wool producing sheep (LPS) were selected from a commercial flock and studied under grazing and controlled feeding conditions. Results are discussed in relation to management of HPS for increased wool production. In the paddock experiment, advantages to HPS in wool growth per unit surface area were least (7%) when pasture quality was low (11 g N/kg DM) and greatest (20%) when pasture quality was best (21 g N/kg DM). Despite the greater live weight of HPS compared with LPS (16%), the HPS produced 25% more clean wool per unit of live weight. Daily clean wool production was always greater in HPS than in LPS. Values ranged from 9.1 v. 7.5 g/day to 15.1 v. 11.6 g/day. During the period following the peak in nitrogen content of the pasture, HPS produced a greater volume of fibre than LPS (194 v. 167 8m3/dayx103), this difference being primarily associated with the greater fibre diameter of wool from HPS (25.4 v. 24.6 8m). In pen experiment 1, the efficiency of conversion of feed to wool was determined under controlled feeding conditions. Differences in wool growth between HPS and LPS at maintenance (M) and above maintenance (M+) were 21% and 49% respectively. Relative efficiency of conversion of feed to wool was 5% higher for HPS during the period immediately following the change in ration and greatest (38-48%) after sheep had made liveweight gains. Wool growth differences between HPS and LPS in pen experiment 2 could not be attributed to either differences in follicle density (66 v. 64 follicles/mm2) or the ratio of secondary to primary follicles (24 : 1 v. 22 : 1). The efficiency of retention of apparently absorbed nitrogen was similar (21.4 v. 20.8%) for HPS and LPS at below maintenance (M-) but differed at M-t (26.8 v. 11.7%). Rumen dry matter turnover time at M- was faster in HPS than in LPS (29.8 v. 38.4 h) but similar at M+ (30.4 v. 34.4 h). At M-, volumetric fibre production of HPS increased from 79 to 106 ,8m3/dayx 103 and from 59 to 75 ,8m3/day x103 for LPS following the subcutaneous administration of the sulfur containing amino acid methionine. These increases were associated with increases in both fibre diameter (1.5 8m) and fibre linear growth (42 8m/day) in HPS, but only linear growth (52 ,8m/day) in LPS. At M+, when basal wool growth was high, there was little increase in wool growth by either group following supplementary methionine. Wool growth responses to methionine were 25 and 19% for HPS and LPS respectively at M+ in pen experiment 3.