Keratin-associated proteins (KAPs) are structural components of wool and hair fibers. To date, eight high glycine/tyrosine KAP (HGT-KAP) families have been identified in humans, but only three have been identified in sheep. In this study, the putative ovine homolog of the human KAP22-1 gene (KRTAP22-1) was amplified using primers designed based on a human KRTAP22-1 sequence. Polymerase chain re...

This study investigated the effects of sheep genetics and feed intake on nitrogen isotopic fractionation (ΔN) and feed conversion efficiency (FCE; live weight gain/DMI), using a 2 × 2 factorial design, with 2 levels of genetic merit for growth (high vs. low) and 2 levels of feed intake (110 vs. 170% of ME for maintenance [MEm]). No effect of genetic merit was detected for live weight gain ( = 0...

Lambs wool production and qualities from the progeny of 2 Merino and 2 Damara rams mated to Merino ewes were compared. The crossbred lambs produced about half the amount of wool and had high fibre diameter variation and medullated fibre components. Merino lambs wool was contaminated with pigmented and medullated fibres apparently transferred from continual exposure to the Damara crossbred lambs...

Mixtures of essential amino acids were infused into the abomasum of sheep, and effects on wool growth were measured. Various mixtures containing methionine stimulated wool growth, whereas mixtures lacking methionine were not effective. In two experiments, the provision of cysteine in place of methionine failed to stimulate wool growth. These results indicate a specific role of methionine in con...

Fly strike in sheep has been estimated to cost the Australian sheep industry approximately $280m dollars annually (Sackett et al. 2006) as a result of sheep losses, cost of treatment and loss of wool and carcase production and value. Historically Australian sheep producers have surgically removed skin from around the tail (mulesing) to help avoid fly strike. Although this has proved highly succ...

I 'N THE PAPER I wrote twenty years ago on the origins of British breeds of sheep, I .attempted to integrate new evidence from archaeology with older documentary evidence.' Medieval archaeology was in its infancy, and the bone remains from sheep gave little information. Illustrations in illuminated manuscripts and later paintings gave better evidence than records. But the most striking new and ...

There are varieties of factors which can affect wool (macro and micro elements of wool) in sheep directly or indirectly. Genetic and environmental factors are major factors influencing wool quality and quantity. There are some bacterial, viral, fungal and espically parasitic diseases which also affect the wool. Other factors are exogenous chemicals, hormones, weather and photo period. In the pr...

The American or Blood System The American system of grading wool was developed in the early 1800s when the native coarse-wooled sheep were being bred to finewooled Merino rams imported from Spain. It assumes that the offspring of the cross would have fleeces which were intermediate in fineness between the two parents. The wool grade is defined as the percentage of Merino blood carried by the sh...

In four sheep dosed with N-[5-(4-aminophenoxy)pentyl]phthalimide (400 mg/kg live weight) fibre growth stopped within l-ls days and the sheep were readily defleeced after 9 days. Most follicles stopped growing fibres for 12-16 days. When wool growth resumed, autoradiographic measurements indicated that it was slightly enhanced in the early regrowth due to an increase in fibre diameter. This incr...

T HE development of the Targhee breed of sheep began in i9=6 when the Bureau of Animal Industry at the U. S. Sheep Experiment Station, Dubois, Idaho mated select Rambouillet rams with select ewes of Corriedale XLincoln-Rambouillet and Lincoln XRambouillet combinations. Descendants of these crosses have been interbred and carefully selected to produce Targhee sheep. Spencer and Stoehr (x94L) hav...