Effects of site of assessment and variation in wool quality traits on the tactile assessment of textural greasy wool handle
J. W. V. Preston A B C D , S. Hatcher A B and B. A. McGregor CA CRC for Sheep industry Innovation, Homestead Building, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia.
B NSW Department of Primary Industries, Orange Agricultural Institute, Locked Bag 6006, Forest Road, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia.
C Australian Future Fibres Research and Innovation Centre, Institute for Frontier Materials, Deakin University, Vic. 3220, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: james.preston@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Animal Production Science 54(10) 1665-1670 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN14422
Submitted: 19 March 2014 Accepted: 18 June 2014 Published: 19 August 2014
Abstract
Variation in textural greasy wool handle across the fleece of Merino sheep was explored. Results demonstrate that there were significant differences across nine sites on the fleece. The inclusion of the covariates fibre diameter, fibre diameter co-efficient of variation, staple length, dust penetration, staple structure, greasy wool colour and resistance to compression, helped to explain some of the variation in textural greasy wool handle between sites such that site of assessment was no longer a significant factor (P = 0.065). However, in practice, those involved with clip preparation or sheep selection based on textural greasy wool handle assessment are unlikely to have these measurements available. The results highlight the importance of nominating a site of assessment when recording textural greasy wool handle.
Additional keywords: grading, Merino, wool classing.
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