Feed Gaps and Fibre Variations. The development of along staple diameter measurement as a diagnostic tool for improved grazing management. 2003 Results

Abstract

This paper was produced as part of the 8x5 Wool Profit Program, funded by AWI.

The program is an integrated research, development and extension program to assist Tasmanian wool producers to achieve an 8% annual return on assets managed within 5 years through access to benchmarking, best practice information, group improvement initiatives and a State-wide wool profit awards program. The 8x5 Wool profit Program is a major new initiative in the Tasmanian wool industry jointly funded by Australian Wool Innovation Limited and the Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research.

This project is aimed at providing staple profile and strength information to wool producers on individual flocks of sheep on their properties. It will also provide data on some problem areas in wool growth for future research.

The intention of this report is to allow Tasmanian wool producers to see the 2003 data from this project and for those involved to compare their results with others. In this report the data are presented with little analysis and comment only on some of the more important results. It is not possible to make general statements on wool growth and quality on the basis of one year’s data.

In 2003, ninety one individually identified flocks of sheep were sampled, 40 ewe, 33 wether and 18 weaner. Staple strength appeared to be a significant problem as only 65% of flocks measured had a strength greater than 32 N/ktex, the strength which is usually thought to be a minimum for sound wool. Further, only 30% had an average wool strength above 40 N/ktex, the current minimum strength which doesn’t attract a discount for strength in fine wools. A much lower proportion in the weaner flocks (11%) which are usually lower micron, had strengths above 40 N/ktex.

In general the wether mobs’ point of staple break and shearing time were separated by about 6 months. As wethers are maintained primarily for wool production there could be more attention given to management and shearing time if stronger wool is to be produced.

Ewe shearing was spread more throughout the year with a peak in July / August. Like the other classes of sheep, the predominant break in the staple was in summer in 2003.

Weaner staple strength was generally low, and as these sheep are usually lower micron than older animals, the discount for low staple strength was probably greater. Weaner sheep needed better management to ensure continuous growth if staple strength problems are to be overcome.

The seasonality of pasture growth, with a significant proportion of annual grass species is a determining factor in the summer drop in micron and the low staple strength of many wool flocks.

Citation

"Feed Gaps and Fibre Variations. The development of along staple diameter measurement as a diagnostic tool for improved grazing management. 2003 Results". M Statham Senior Research Fellow Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research, Mt Pleasant Labs, PO Box 46, Kings Meadows, TAS 7249, June 2004