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Growth patterns in sheep: wool growth during weight loss and subsequent compensatory growth

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

B. W. Butler-Hogg
B. W. Butler-Hogg
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, 2052, Australia
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Summary

Wool growth rates (WGR) of individual sheep were measured by a patch-sampling technique, during periods of developmental growth, body-weight loss (which ranged from 21 to 34% of original body weight, at rates between 60 and 150g/day) and subsequent compensatory growth under ad libitum feeding.

There was a ‘lag phase’ of about 30 days before WGR appeared to be affected by changes in direction of the animals' growth paths.

During body-weight loss WGR declined about 300% more than the percentage change in body weight, with the duration of nutritional stress exerting a greater influence than the rate of body-weight loss.

During compensatory growth in body weight, the relationship between WGR and rate of body-weight change was initially negative. Sheep required between 11 and 14 weeks to reach the WGR of 21 g/day found during developmental growth. Compensatory growth of wool did not occur.

Duration of the nutritional stress, rather than its severity (as indicated by rate of body-weight loss), was the more important determinant of the time taken for the sheep to regain normal levels of wool growth after the commencement of ad libitum feeding.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 102 , Issue 1 , February 1984 , pp. 105 - 109
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1984

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