@conference {40422,
	title = {Slimming diets for overfat lambs},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {52},
	year = {1992},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {241-242},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {Wool staple strength was determined in 2120 Romney ewes from 12  sources and 242 Romney rams from 3 sources between 1986 and 1988.  Positive, negative and random selection formed High Strength, Low  Strength and Control lines, each with 80 ewes and 10 sires. Since 1989  ewe and ram replacements have been selected from within the lines and  the number of breeding ewes per line increased to 100.   Staple strength was 25\% greater in the High Strength line and 15\% lower  in the Low Strength line than in the Control line when fleeces of  hoggets born in the selection lines from 1986 to 1989 were compared  (P<0.01). Positively correlated with the staple strength response were  responses in staple length, fibre diameter, clean fleece weight and  fibre length after carding. The major effect to date of selection for  increased staple strength has been to enhance wool growth, with the  consequent increase in fibre diameter contributing to the improvement in  staple strength. The increase in both the strength and length of  staples will have contributed to the increase in fibre length after  carding. These preliminary results demonstrate that direct selection  for staple strength has been successful. The staple strength response  and associated responses in wool production and wool characteristics  were of benefit to both producers and processors.  },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Cruickshank GJ and Muir PD and MacLean KS}
}
