Relationships between skin follicle characteristics and fibre properties of Suri and Huacaya alpacas and Peppin Merino sheep
M. B. Ferguson A , B. A. McGregor B D E and R. Behrendt C DA Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia, South Perth, WA 6151, Australia.
B Centre for Material and Fibre Innovation, Deakin University, Geelong, Vic. 3220, Australia.
C Livestock Production Sciences, Future Farming Systems Research Division, Department of Primary Industries, Hamilton, Vic. 3300, Australia.
D Formerly Wool Quality Department, Department of Primary Industries, Attwood, Vic. 3030, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: bruce.mcgregor@deakin.edu.au
Animal Production Science 52(7) 442-447 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN11233
Submitted: 14 October 2011 Accepted: 6 February 2012 Published: 3 April 2012
Abstract
We aimed to quantify the number, type and arrangement of skin follicles in Huacaya and Suri alpaca skin and correlate their follicle characteristics with fibre traits of harvested fibre and compared these relationships with those of Merino sheep. Fibre and skin samples were collected from the mid-side of 12 Huacaya alpacas, 24 Suri alpacas and 10 Merino sheep. The mean fibre diameter (MFD ± s.e.) of the Huacaya and Suri were: 35.5 ± 0.9 and 28.3 ± 1.0 μm, respectively. The follicle groups found for alpacas were very different from the normal trio of primary follicles found in sheep and goats. The follicle group of the alpacas consisted of a single primary follicle surrounded by a variable number of secondary follicles. The mean ± s.e. primary follicle density was 3.1 ± 0.3 and 2.7 ± 0.1 follicles/mm2 for Huacaya and Suri, respectively. The mean ± s.e. secondary follicle density (SFD) was 13.7 ± 1.2 and 17.5 ± 0.6 follicles/mm2 for Huacaya and Suri, respectively. The mean ± s.e. ratio of secondary to primary follicles (S/P ratio) was 5.1 ± 0.5 for the Huacaya and 7.3 ± 0.2 for the Suri alpacas. The sheep had higher S/P ratios and SFD, lower MFD and produced significantly heavier fleeces. The key correlations found between traits in alpacas include a negative correlation between SFD and MFD (r = –0.71, P = 0.001) and a negative correlation between S/P ratio and MFD (r = –0.44, P = 0.003) and a positive correlation between S/P ratio and total follicle density (r = 0.38, P = 0.010). The study revealed that important relationships exist between alpaca skin follicle characteristics and fibre characteristics. It was the number of secondary follicles in a group that imparts density and a corresponding reduced MFD.
Additional keywords: fibre curvature, fibre diameter, fibre quality, liveweight, tenacity.
References
Antonini M, Gonzales M, Valbonesi A (2004) Relationship between age and postnatal skin follicular development in three types of South American domestic camelids. Livestock Production Science 90, 241–246.| Relationship between age and postnatal skin follicular development in three types of South American domestic camelids.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Badajoz LE, Sandoval CN, Garcia VW, Pezo CD (2009) Histological description of the hair follicle in the young alpaca. Revista de Investigaciones Veterinarias del Peru 20, 154–164. [In Spanish]
Barton SA, Purvis IW, Brewer HG (2001) Are wool follicle characteristics associated with wool quality and production in hogget and adult sheep? Proceedings of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics 14, 289–292.
Calle-Escobar R (1984) ‘Animal breeding and production of American Camelids.’ (Ron Hennig-Patience: Lima)
Carter HB, Clarke WH (1957a) The hair follicle group and skin follicle population of Australian Merino sheep. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 8, 91–108.
| The hair follicle group and skin follicle population of Australian Merino sheep.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Carter HB, Clarke WH (1957b) The hair follicle group and skin follicle population of some non-merino breeds of sheep. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 8, 109–119.
| The hair follicle group and skin follicle population of some non-merino breeds of sheep.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Crook BJ, Purvis IW (1997) Wool follicle traits in the NSW Peppin Merino stud industry: preliminary estimates from a sample survey. Proceedings of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics 12, 158–162.
Hill JA, Hynd PI, Ponzoni RW, Grimson RJ, Jaensch KS, Kenyon RV, Penno NM (1997) Skin and follicle characters II. Correlations with objectively measured and subjectively assessed wool characters. Proceedings of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics 12, 524–528.
Hoffman E, Fowler ME (1995) ‘The Alpaca book: management, medicine, biology and fiber.’ (Clay Press Inc.: Herald, CA)
Hynd PI, Ponzoni RW, Grimson R, Jaensch KS, Smith D, Kenyon R (1996) Wool follicle and skin characters – their potential to improve wool production and quality in Merino sheep. Wool Technology and Sheep Breeding 44, 167–177.
Hynd PI, Ponzoni RW, Hill JA (1997) Can selection for skin traits increase the rate of genetic progress in Merino breeding programs? Proceedings of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics 12, 752–759.
International Wool Textile Organisation (2005a) ‘Measurement of the mean and distribution of fibre diameter of wool using an optical fibre diameter analyser (OFDA).’ IWTO-47. (International Wool Textile Organisation: Ilkley, UK)
International Wool Textile Organisation (2005b) ‘Determination of medullated fibre content of wool and mohair samples by opacity measurement using an OFDA.’ IWTO-57. (International Wool Textile Organisation: Ilkley, UK)
Judson GJ, McGregor BA, Howse AM (2011) Blood mineral, trace-element and vitamin concentrations in Huacaya alpaca and Merino sheep grazing the same pasture. Animal Production Science 51, 873–880.
| Blood mineral, trace-element and vitamin concentrations in Huacaya alpaca and Merino sheep grazing the same pasture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXht12gsrfK&md5=b081c3d2db6f69339510704f05ef0522CAS |
Maddocks IG, Jackson N (1988) ‘Structural studies of sheep, cattle and goat skin.’ (CSIRO: Blacktown)
McGregor BA (1995) Alpaca fleece development and methods of assessing fibre quality. In ‘Proceedings International Alpaca Industry Conference, Geelong’. pp. 55–78. (Australian Alpaca Association: Forest Hill)
McGregor BA (2002) Comparative productivity and grazing behaviour of Huacaya alpacas and Peppin Merino sheep grazed on annual pastures. Small Ruminant Research 44, 219–232.
| Comparative productivity and grazing behaviour of Huacaya alpacas and Peppin Merino sheep grazed on annual pastures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McGregor BA, Brown AJ (2010) Soil nutrient accumulation in alpaca latrine sites. Small Ruminant Research 94, 17–24.
| Soil nutrient accumulation in alpaca latrine sites.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Moore GPM, Jackson N, Isaacs K, Brown G (1996) Development and density of wool follicles in Merino sheep selected for single fibre characteristics. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 47, 1195–1201.
| Development and density of wool follicles in Merino sheep selected for single fibre characteristics.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Payne RW (Ed.) (2010) ‘The guide to Genstat. Release 13. Part 2: statistics.’ (VSN International: Hertfordshire, UK)
Purvis IW, Swan AA (1997) Can follicle density be used to enhance the bate of genetic improvement in Merino flocks? Proceedings of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics 12, 512–515.
Reid RL (Ed.) (1981) ‘A manual of Australian agriculture.’ 4th edn. (W. Heinmann: Melbourne)
Rendel JM, Nay T (1978) Selection for high and low ration and high and low primary density in Merino sheep. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 29, 1077–1086.
| Selection for high and low ration and high and low primary density in Merino sheep.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Skerritt JW (1995) There is no benefit in using follicle density, secondary to primary follicle ratio or primary follicle density as additional selection. Proceedings of the Australian Association of Animal Breeding and Genetics 11, 228–232.
Watts JE (1996) ‘Elite Alpaca production: breeding from fibre to fabric.’ (Coolaroo Alpaca Stud: Mittagong, NSW)
Williams AJ, Winston RJ (1987) A study of the characteristics of wool follicle and fibre in Merino sheep genetically different in wool production. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 38, 743–755.
| A study of the characteristics of wool follicle and fibre in Merino sheep genetically different in wool production.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Yang S, de Ravin M, Lamb PR, Blenman NG (1996) Wool fibre bundle strength measurement with Sirolan-Tensor. Proceedings of Top-Tech 96, 293–304.
