Relations between crimp and fineness in Australian Merinos

Abstract

The relation of diameter to crimp is analysed for five of the main strains of the Australian Merino, run in three locations in a number of seasons. It is shown that the change in diameter indicated by a given change in crimp within one flock varies considerably from strain to strain; but on the average it is only about half the change which would be predicted from the same difference in crimp between wools from different flocks, either from different strains or from different environments. The regession coefficient of diameter on crimp within a flock is not appreciably affected by age or environment. Age has little effect on the average crimp but in some strains it may change the diameter considerably. Similarly, environment usually only changes crimp to a small extent, but has very marked effects on the diameter. As a result, the average diameter associated with a given crimp may vary considerably with age or environment. This differential effect may be so great that a fine-woolled strain in a good season may produce wool of the same diameter as a medium-woolled strain in a poor season, although the three strains still retain their characteristic crimpings.