Wool Production – Challenges to Wool Production and Quality

PROD-300 Challenges to Wool Production and Quality
Wool Production focuses on the characteristics of Merino wool which influence its value, such as fleece weight, average fibre diameter, staple strength, staple length, colour, vegetable matter and style. The impact of genetics, nutrition, environment, physiology and management on these wool characteristics is examined. The interactions between these factors is explored in a range of environments, providing a systems approach to wool production in each and an understanding of the constraints to wool production at a national level, thus allowing the identification and evaluation of options available to the commercial woolgrower for improving productivity and the value of their clip.
Sheep health and disease issues and the physiological demands placed on breeding ewes and young sheep are covered in this theme. Mechanisms of generalised (systemic) disease are examined and their impact on sheep production considered. The effect of internal and external parasites on wool production is explained and a basis for understanding the various control strategies available to the producer is provided. The impact of pregnancy and lactation on wool growth and quality is examined and the impact of changes in nutrition and feeding strategies for both breeding ewes and young sheep is addressed.

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PROD-300-050 Sheep Health and Disease
The general principles and mechanisms of disease in sheep production are introduced. The impact of the immune and stress responses on sheep production are considered and the effect that blowfly strike, lice infestation, gastrointestinal nematodes and liver fluke have on wool production is discussed. A basis for understanding the various control strategies available to the producer to control these infestations is provided.
PROD-300-050-050 An overview of diseases in sheep production systems
This module introduces the general principles and mechanisms of disease in sheep production, providing overviews of the economic impact of disease, the processes of disease and a summary of the main effects on wool production of key sheep diseases.
PROD-300-050-100 Mechanisms of generalised (systemic) disease: the immune response
This module examines the mechanisms of generalised or systemic disease. In particular, it focuses on immune responses and considers how these responses impact on sheep production.
PROD-300-050-150 Mechanisms of generalised (systemic) disease: the stress response
This module examines the mechanisms of generalised or systemic disease. In particular, it focuses on stress responses and considers how these responses impact on sheep production.
PROD-300-050-200 Disease and wool production: sheep blowfly
This module looks in detail at the sheep blowfly, focusing specifically on the lifecycle of the parasite and the effect of blowfly strike on wool production.
PROD-300-050-250 Factors affecting the incidence of blowfly strike
This module addresses the environmental and host-specific factors which influence the incidence of blowfly strike. It provides a basis for understanding the various control strategies available to the producer.
PROD-300-050-300 Strategies for controlling blowfly strike in sheep
This module presents the various strategies available to the producer for controlling blowfly strike.
PROD-300-050-350 Disease and wool production: body louse
This module examines in detail the body louse, focusing specifically on the lifecycle of the parasite and the effect of lice infestation on wool production.
PROD-300-050-400 Factors affecting the incidence of lice infestation
This module addresses the environmental and host-specific factors which influence the incidence of louse infestation. It provides a basis for understanding the various control strategies available to the producer.
PROD-300-050-450 Disease and wool production: gastrointestinal nematodes
This module looks at gastrointestinal nematode (roundworm) infections in sheep. It introduces the major nematode species, the lifecycle of these parasites and the diagnosis of nematode infection.
PROD-300-050-500 The effect of gastrointestinal nematodes on sheep production
This module presents the effects of gastrointestinal nematode infections on sheep production. It discusses inappetence and altered protein metabolism as major pathophysiological consequences of worm burdens, accounting in part for the substantial sub-clinical losses associated with this disease.
PROD-300-050-550 Factors affecting the incidence of gastrointestinal nematode infection in sheep
This module examines the effects of temperature and moisture on the incidence of nematode infection, as well as host- and parasite- specific factors. It provides a basis for understanding the various control strategies available to the producer.
PROD-300-050-600 Strategies for controlling gastrointestinal nematode infections in sheep
This module introduces conventional and future (novel) strategies whereby gastrointestinal nematode infections can be controlled. It also summarises the key features of control programs.
PROD-300-050-650 Disease and wool production: liver fluke
This module examines liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica) infections in sheep. It describes the lifecycle and distribution of this parasite, the clinical symptoms of infection and the effect on sheep production. The importance of the intermediate host Lymnaea tomentosa is discussed..
PROD-300-050-700 Diagnosis, treatment and control of liver fluke in sheep
This module summarises the diagnosis, treatment and control of liver fluke infections in sheep..
PROD-300-100 Managing wool quality in breeding ewes
The impact of pregnancy and lactation on wool production and quality, and strategies for managing wool quality in breeding ewes are addressed.
PROD-300-100-050 The impact of pregnancy and lactation on wool growth and quality
This module examines the influence of pregnancy and lactation on wool growth rate and wool quality. It also looks at the true cost of reproduction in terms of feed conversion efficiency and lost wool production.
PROD-300-100-100 Why do wool growth rate and fibre diameter decline during late pregnancy in breeding ewes?
This module considers the potential role of hormonal changes during pregnancy and lactation in reducing wool growth rate and fibre diameter. It also looks at the role of dietary protein during late pregnancy.
PROD-300-100-150 Strategies for managing wool quality in breeding ewes
This module contains supplementary feeding, lambing time and shearing time as three strategies available to woolgrowers for managing wool quality in breeding ewes.
PROD-300-150 Managing wool quality in young sheep
This topic examines why young sheep are prone to seasonal change in nutrition, and examines feeding and grazing strategies that may be used to minimise the effect of these seasonal changes in nutrition.
PROD-300-150-050 Why are young sheep more prone to seasonal changes in nutrition?
This module looks at the greater responsiveness of young (weaner) sheep to seasonal changes in nutrition, within the context of a Mediterranean environment. It considers variation in liveweight as well as wool growth rate and the implications of this for staple strength. It concludes that young sheep are more prone to seasonal changes in nutrition due to higher nutritional demands for growth and lower ability to buffer against nutritional stress. It provides a summary of strategies for maintaining productivity of young sheep in highly seasonal environments.
PROD-300-150-100 Managing wool quality in young sheep: feeding strategies
This modules presents supplementary feeding strategies to minimise the effects of seasonal changes in nutrition on the productivity of young sheep in a Mediterranean environment. It presents the results of a field experiment comparing the relative merits of a range of feeding strategies, involving three different locations and two strains of Merino. Specifically, it examines the effects of the treatments on staple strength.
PROD-300-150-150 Managing wool quality in young sheep: grazing strategies
This module examines the role of stocking rate in controlling the effects of seasonal changes in nutrition on the productivity of young sheep in a Mediterranean environment. It presents the results of a field experiment comparing the relative merits of a range of grazing strategies during winter and spring, for groups of weaners differing in average liveweight during the preceding summer. It presents the effects of the treatments on liveweight, fleece weight, fibre diameter and staple strength, as well as presenting the relative effects on gross returns per hectare. The effect of shearing time on hauteur is also discussed.

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