Efficiency Of Wool Growth

Abstract

Investigations were begun to determine whether differences between sheep in wool production under grazing conditions reflected differences in feed intake and/or in the efficiency of conversion of feed to wool. Two groups each of 9 four -tooth Romney ewes, comparable in liveweight and reproductive history, but differing in their previous season''s wool growth on pasture, were pen-fed, initially under restricted intake and subsequently under ad libitum feeding, with a pelleted lucernemaize ration. The sheep which were higher wool-producers under grazing conditions were also higher wool-producers when fed in pens. They produced 25% more clean scoured wool than the lower wool -producers on restricted intake and 30% more under ad libitum feeding conditions. The differences in liveweight between the 2 groups were not significant at any time, nor was there a significant difference in intake during the period of ad libitum feeding. It is concluded that the higher wool -producers were more efficient converters of feed to wool.