Influence of sire breed, protein supplementation and gender on wool spinning fineness in first-Cross Merino lambs

摘要: Our objectives were to evaluate the effects of sire breed, type protein supplement, level supplementation and sex on wool spinning fineness (SF), its correlations with other wool characteristics prediction accuracy in F1 Merino crossbred lambs. Texel, Coopworth, White Suffolk, East Friesian Dorset rams were mated 500 purebred dams at a ratio 1:100 in separate paddocks within single management system. The F1 progeny raised on ryegrass pasture until weaning, before forty lambs randomly allocated treatments 5 x 2 2 factorial experimental design representing sire breeds, 2 supplementary feeds (canola or lupins), levels supplementation (1% 2% liveweight) sex (wethers ewes). Lambs were supplemented for six weeks after an initial three of adjustment, sampled commencement conclusion of the feeding trial analyzed SF, mean fibre diameter (FD), coefficient variation (CV), standard deviation, comfort factor (CF), curvature (CURV), clean fleece yield. Data were analyzed using mixed linear model procedures fitted as a random effect, breed, sex, supplementary feed type, of supplementation their second-order interactions fixed effects. Sire breed (P<0.001), (P<0.004), (P<0.019) interactions significantly influenced SF. SF ranged from 22.7 ± 0.2im Suffolk-sired lambs 25.1 ± 0.2im Friesian crossbred lambs. Ewes had higher than wethers. There were significant (P<0.001) between FD (0.93), CV (0.40), CF (-0.94) CURV (-0.12). Its strong relationship with other quality traits enabled accurate predictions explaining up to about 93% observed variation. sire breed genetics nutrition will have impact choices that dual-purpose sheep producers make when selecting breeds and protein achieve optimal spinning fineness farmgate level. This facilitate selective breeding programs being able better account characteristics.