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A note on the occurrence of isolated melanin pigmented fibres in the white fleece wool of Corriedale sheep

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

M. R. Fleet ,
J. E. Stafford  and
C. H. S. Dolling
M. R. Fleet
Affiliation:
Animal Industry Division, South Australian Department of Agriculture, Box 1671 GPO, Adelaide 5001, Australia
J. E. Stafford
Affiliation:
Animal Industry Division, South Australian Department of Agriculture, Box 1671 GPO, Adelaide 5001, Australia
C. H. S. Dolling
Affiliation:
Animal Industry Division, South Australian Department of Agriculture, Box 1671 GPO, Adelaide 5001, Australia
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Abstract

The occurrence of melanin pigmented wool fibres in the skirted white fleece wool from 1-year-old Corriedale ewes, having either least (group 1), most (group 3) or an intermediate level (group 2) of black nose skin pigmentation, was investigated. Thirteen of the 87 fleeces analysed had the equivalent of 10 to 389 isolated pigmented fibres per 100 g of scoured wool. The mean diameter of the pigmented fibres was similar to that of the fleece specimens analysed and they occurred singly or in small groups within individual staples. Large numbers of isolated pigmented fibres in fleeces were widely distributed, and constitute a serious problem of identification by visual inspection. Fibre darkness and the number of fleeces found with pigmented wool fibres were two measurements which showed a significant association (P < 0·001 and P < 0·05, respectively) with nose skin pigment group. With one exception from group 2 the results support the suggestion that the usual selection for dark nose skin in this breed may be antagonistic to selection for a white fleece. The pigmented lengths of fibres were found to be independent of nose skin pigment group.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 39 , Issue 2 , October 1984 , pp. 311 - 314
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1984

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References

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