The Spatial Relationships Between Central Primary Skin Follicles During their Development in Sheep

Abstract

The spatial patterns of central primary follicles have been measured during development and compared on six body positions and between Romney X Southdown cross and Merino sheep. The patterns are similar in both breeds on all the body positions investigated and appear to be constant between 70 and 140 days of foetal age. The actual measurement of spatial relationships shows that the distribution of central primary follicles is highly uniform, and gives support to the idea that these follicles may compete for space during their initiation. The marked directional trend of the trio groups does not appear to be associated with a directional component in the spatial arrangement of central primary follicles.