Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
- Volume 3 Issue 4
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- Pages.305-312
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- 1990
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- 1011-2367(pISSN)
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- 1976-5517(eISSN)
DOI QR Code
PRODUCTION FROM FINE WOOL SHEEP IN THREE AREAS IN NORTHERN CHINA
- Masters, D.G. (CSIRO Division of Animal Production) ;
- Purser, D.B. (CSIRO Division of Animal Production) ;
- Yu, S.X. (Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science) ;
- Wang, Z.S. (Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science) ;
- Yang, R.Z. (Xinjiang Institute of Animal Science, Xinjiang Academy of Animal Science) ;
- Liu, N. (Xinjiang Institute of Animal Science, Xinjiang Academy of Animal Science) ;
- Wang, X.L. (Xinjiang Institute of Animal Science, Xinjiang Academy of Animal Science) ;
- Lu, D.X. (Inner Mongolia Academy of Animal Husbandry Sciences) ;
- Wu, L.H. (Inner Mongolia Academy of Animal Husbandry Sciences) ;
- Rong, W.H. (Inner Mongolia Academy of Animal Husbandry Sciences) ;
- Ren, J.K. (Chifeng Institute of Animal Science) ;
- Li, G.H. (Chifeng Institute of Animal Science)
- Received : 1990.01.29
- Accepted : 1990.08.27
- Published : 1990.12.01
Abstract
The seasonal changes in production, the systems of management and the seasonal climatic and feeding conditions are described for three farms representative of the major areas for growing fine-wool sheep in northern China. At all farms, summer and autumn were seasons of rapid liveweight gain and wool growth. In the winter and spring, during lactation, liveweight declined wool growth decreased by approximately 70%, and fibre diameter by 4 to 8 microns. The wool produced was characterized by a very low clean wool yield (39-51%). Greasy fleece weights ranged from 4.5 to 8.0 kg and average diameter of wool fibres from 20.5 to 23 microns. The number of lambs born per 100 ewes mated ranged from 79 to 95, lamb weights ranged from 3.8 to 4.5 kg, and weaning weights ranged from 17 to 25 kg. Overall, the patterns of sheep production were similar to those found in seasonally arid environments (such as in the mediterranean climatic zone). Yield of clean wool and therefore clean fleece weights were far below those in most other fine-wool producing areas of the world.