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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 46(7)

Inheritance of moisture content in greasy and clean wool and its relationship to other wool traits in Merinos

M. E. Dowling A C , A. C. Schlink B and J. C. Greeff A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Western Australian Department of Agriculture, 10 Dore Street, Katanning, WA 6317, Australia.

B CSIRO Livestock Industries, Private Bag 5, Wembley, WA 6913, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: mdowling@agric.wa.gov.au

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 46(7) 933-936 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA05373
Submitted: 23 November 2005  Accepted: 4 May 2006   Published: 8 June 2006

Abstract

Moisture in greasy wool is associated with wool yellowing, fleece rot and fly strike, whereas the high moisture content of wool fabric is related to desired woollen fabric traits. This paper reports on a simple gravimetric method of determining greasy and clean wool moisture contents to determine fleece moisture heritability. The moisture index of greasy wool has a heritability of 0.37 ± 0.04 and phenotypic correlations of –0.31 ± 0.02 with yield, 0.69 ± 0.01 with suint index and 0.50 ± 0.01 with Methylene Blue absorption. The moisture index of greasy wool was strongly genetically correlated with yield (–0.48 ± 0.06), suint index (0.93 ± 0.03), Methylene Blue absorption (0.92 ± 0.03) but not significantly genetically correlated with clean wool moisture absorption (0.18 ± 044). Moisture absorption of clean wool has a very low heritability of 0.02 ± 0.03. The correlations between moisture index and suint index suggest that greasy fleece moisture index is primarily determined by suint index. The implications of variation in the moisture index of wool on fleece rot and fly strike are discussed.


Acknowledgments

The authors wish to knowledge the technical support of Anne Murray and the staff at Katanning for maintenance of the Resource flocks. This project was partially funded by the Australian Sheep Industries Cooperative Research Centre.


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