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Effect of low skin surface temperature on wool growth

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

A. M. Downes
Affiliation:
C.S.I.R.O., Division of Animal Physiology, The Ian Clunies Ross Animal Research Laboratory, Prospect, N.S.W., Australia
J. C. D. Hutchinson
Affiliation:
C.S.I.R.O., Division of Animal Physiology, The Ian Clunies Ross Animal Research Laboratory, Prospect, N.S.W., Australia

Summary

The length of wool grown per day, on closely clipped patches of the skin of two sheep exposed to an ambient temperature of 2 °C for 4 days, was reduced to 30% of normal. For individual fibres, this decrease was directly proportional to their normal growth. Fibre diameter was not affected. Growth in a warm 4-day period succeeding the cold period returned to normal and remained normal thereafter.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1969

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References

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