@conference {40592,
	title = {Effect of nutrition on fine wool production in Merino wethers},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {54},
	year = {1994},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {173-176},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {The potential to reduce fibre diameter of wool from Merino sheep using  
feeds that are readily available and cheaply produced in New Zealand was  
investigated.  Two hundred and twenty fine wool two year old and mature  
Merino wethers were allocated to four feeding treatments for 12 months.  The  
four feeding treatments were 1) silage, 2) silage and grass, 3) grass allocated  
three times per week, and 4) grass allocated once per week.  Monthly  
liveweight, wool growth rate and fibre characteristics were measured.  At the  
trial conclusion annual fleece production was determined and wool samples  
from each treatment group combined for line analysis. 
 
Liveweights fluctuated over the trial period indicating the difficulty of  
controlling feed intake accurately under pasture conditions.  Wethers on the  
silage treatment had significantly lower fleece weights (2.4 kg) and finer fibre  
diameter (17.0 {\textpm} 0.2 and 17.6 {\textpm} 0.3 m for 2 year old and mature wethers  
respectively) than other treatments (3.2 kg, 17.6 {\textpm} 0.2 and 18.6 {\textpm} 0.3 {\textmu} for 2  
year old and mature wethers respectively).  Staple strength ranged from 17 to  
36 N/ktex, with weakest wool from the silage treatments.  Bulk values were  
low, ranging from 24.0 to 27.3 cm3/g. 
 
Wool was processed by a Japanese company for super high grade men{\textquoteright}s  
clothing fabric.  The treatment groups were processed separately and evaluated  
at all stages from greasy wool to fabric.  Little difference was found between  
the treatments except for the wool from the young silage treatment which had a  
superior fabric handle but was inferior at other processing stages. },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Newman S-AN and Paterson DJ and Haack NA}
}
