The relationship of skin follicle development to growth rate in sheep.

Abstract

Observations are reported on factors affecting the ratio of secondary to primary follicles (SJP) in a flock of Merino sheep.It was found that all follicles were initiated prior to birth but that the number which finally came to maturity (production of fibre) was significantly affected by birth weight and growth from birth to 1 month. Growth at later ages appeared to be unimportant. There was a significant correlation (r = +0.29) between birth weight and log potential S/P at birth. This is interpreted to indicate that while pre-natal growth conditions affect the number of follicles initiated, other factors are also of considerable importance. It is concluded that the larger animals at birth also have a greater total number of primary follicles than smaller animals. It is further concluded that this difference in total primary follicles results primarily from differences in size a t the 90th day of pre-natal life rather than from differences in density a t that time.