The reactions of unshorn and shorn sheep to hot wet and hot dry atmospheres

Abstract

Three Merino sheep with fleeces 7–8 cm in length were exposed to a series of hot wet and hot dry atmospheres. Their reactions to each of the environments were observed by recording rectal temperature and respiratory rate at hourly intervals during exposure. At the completion of a series the sheep were shorn to about 0.5 cm length of wool and again subjected to the same series of atmospheres. Hot wet atmospheres were better tolerated by the shorn sheep, whereas the unshorn animals reacted to a lesser extent under hot dry conditions. These observations are in keeping with the data obtained by Lee (1950). An attempt has been made to explain these findings in terms of some physico-chemical properties of wool.