Authors: Zahra Salehian Noshin Naderi Manochehr Souri Rouhollah Mirmahmoudi Fardin Hozhabri
Publish Date: 2015/01/24
Volume: 47, Issue: 3, Pages: 567-573
Abstract
This experiment was conducted to investigate the seasonal pattern of hair follicle activity wool growth and fibre diameter FD in Sanjabi sheep in west Iran Kermanshah 34° 18′ N and 47° 3′ E elevation 1420 m Ten male and 10 female Sanjabi sheep with an initial live weight of 321 ± 13 and 327 ± 15 means ± SD respectively were used in a 365day study A diet was offered with an estimated concentration of 218 Mcal metabolizable energy and 1300 g/kg DM crude protein Body weight average daily gain ADG and dry matter intake DMI were recorded weekly The percentages of active primary and secondary wool follicles PAP and PAS follicle density and the ratio of secondary to primary follicles S/P were determined from skin biopsies taken from the right midside of the sheep at monthly intervals Raw and clean fibre growth rates and FD were measured from left midside patches 10 × 10 cm harvested at the end of every month There was a gradual increase in live weight throughout the experiment while ADG and DMI changed in concert with day length The greatest values for PAP and PAS were observed in summer whereas lowest were obtained in winter p 0001 Clean wool growth rate and FD were greatest p 0001 in summer and lowest p 0001 in winter It is concluded that a seasonal cycle of feed intake body growth fibre follicle activity wool growth and FD occur in fattailed Sanjabi sheep
Keywords: