A Relationship Between Sulphur Content of Wool and Wool Production by Merino Sheep

Abstract

The sulphur content of wool from 66 Peppin Merino wethers maintained together at pasture was measured in midside staples representing 49 weeks growth. The distribution of sulphur values was normal with a mean of 3·43 % and a range of 3·08-3·92 %. The sulphur content of the wool was inversely related to wool production among these sheep. There were no significant differences in the relationship when wool production was expressed as fleece weight index (F.W.I.), i.e. clean fleece weight/body weight (r = -0·48), as clean fleece weight (r = -0·42), or as wool growth per unit area of skin (r = - 0·37). The mean sulphur content of wool from sheep with the 10 highest values for F.W.I. was 3·27%, compared with a mean of 3 ·55% sulphur for wool from sheep with the 10 lowest values for F.W.I.