Polymerase chain reaction-single stranded conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis was used to investigate variation in the ovine KAP6-3 gene (KRTAP6-3) in 383 Merino × Southdown-cross lambs from four sire-lines, and to determine whether this variation affects wool traits. Five PCR-SSCP banding patterns, representing five different nucleotide sequences, were detected, including four prev...

A hydrosulphide solution (3% Na2S, 0.5% NaOH, 2% wetting agent) when misted-onto the skin of the sheep causes a frank break in the wool at the skin surface. Wool from this treated area can be manually removed 30 60 sec. later. The sheep handling device, mister, and ancillary equipment for wool handling have been developed to enable the technique to be used on commercial properties. The practica...

b) Numbers. The total sheep population in the Chokla distribution area was 0.53 m according to the 1972 census and 0.511 m according to the 1977 census, thus showing a slight decline. Of these, adult males and adult females were 0.049 and 0.352 m respectively. Chokla is perhaps the finest carpet-wool breed, although most Chokla wool is now being diverted to the worsted sector because of the dea...

Sheep from 4 Merino flocks, different in annual clean fleece production when grazed together, were given several nutritional treatments to compare the relationships of wool sulphur with nutrient intake, and with wool growth and plasma cystine. The sheep were selected from a finewool (Fl), a strong wool (S), and 2 medium-Peppin (MP6 and MPlO) flocks. The nutritional treatments varied intakes of ...

Adsorption of dye methylene blue from aqueous solution on the surface of sheep wool and cotton fibers was accomplished under the optimize conditions of temperature, concentration, pH, stay time duration and quantity of adsorbent. Spectrometric technique was used for the measurements of concentration of dye before and after adsorption. The percentage removal and distribution constant (KD) values...

We investigate the origin of archaeological wool textiles preserved by anoxic waterlogging from seven medieval archaeological deposits in north-western Europe (c. 700-1600 AD), using geospatial patterning in carbon (δ13C), nitrogen (δ15N) and non-exchangeable hydrogen (δ2H) composition of modern and ancient sheep proteins. δ13C, δ15N and δ2H values from archaeological wool keratin (n = 83) and ...

High glycine-tyrosine proteins (HGTPs), also known as keratin-associated proteins (KAPs), play a key role in the major structures and mechanical properties of wool fiber. Sheep HGTPs consist of three multigene families: KAP6, KAP7, and KAP8 genes. Polymorphisms of these three genes have been proposed to have important effects on wool fiber traits. The aim of the present study was to identify po...

This paper briefly narrates the historical and present challenges facing sheep herders in the Kyrgyz Republic. Originally these were nomads employing an horizontal and vertical migration system, but Russian conquest and settlement forced this to change to a system of transhumance. The latter, albeit structured in a collective system, was more or less maintained throughout the communist period. ...

Management of gastrointestinal parasites is a critical issue for sheep producers worldwide. Increases in the prevalence of drug-resistant worms have complicated parasite control and increased economic losses. Therefore, other methods of parasite control need to be assessed, including the use of genetically resistant animals in breeding programs. Hair sheep breeds such as the St. Croix have grea...

Lupins were treated by either heat (1158C for 1 h) or by formaldehyde (0.4 g 100 gÿ1 crude protein). The fractional rate of disappearance of N from dacron bags suspended in the rumen of steers was reduced by either treatment. Assuming a rumen outflow rate of 0.03 hÿ1, effective rumen degradability was 0.96, 0.94 and 0.92 for protein and 0.84, 0.82 and 0.81 for dry matter in untreated, heatand f...