Characteristics of fleeces of fine-wool Merino weaners shorn at either 9- or 12-months of age

Abstract

The wool of high producing, fine-wool sheep can be discounted for over-length staple length if shorn on an annual cycle. This paper contains data on fleece characteristics (including length, strength and position of break) from the initial shearing in a project investigating different shearing intervals. Increases in both clean fleece weight and staple length indicate that wool growth between 9 and 12 months of age was proportionately greater than during the first 9 months. The mean fibre diameter of the 2 groups of fleeces (15.9 and 16.7 µm for fleeces shorn at 9- and 12-month, respectively) reflected the higher wool growth rates. However, staple strength of the 12-month shorn group was lower than that of the 9-month group (30.5 v. 36.5 N/ktex) and the mean relative position of the break moved closer to the tip (28.5 v. 33.9 %).