@conference {40844,
	title = {Development of fibre and follicle characteristics related to wool bulk in Perendale sheep over the first year of life},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {56},
	year = {1996},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {314-318},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {The pattern of wool fibre and follicle development was monitored for  20 Perendale lambs from lines selected for or against wool bulk. There was  no significant difference in characteristics associated with wool bulk  between selection lines at birth. These characteristics followed a curvilinear  pattern of development with most of the change taking place between birth  and 14 weeks of age then reaching a plateau by 35 weeks. The different rate  of developmental change for each bulk line meant that by 14 weeks the high  line had a greater follicle curvature grade, shorter follicle length, shallower  follicle depth, more para-meso cortex and a higher fibre curvature. Together  fibre curvature, fibre diameter and fibre diameter standard deviation  explained around 70\% of the variation in hogget wool bulk from 25 weeks  of age. From these results it is suggested that the potential of a sheep to  produce high bulk wool can be assessed using fibre curvature and fibre  diameter from 6 months of age which allows hogget mating and/or early  culling to be practised.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Dick JL and Sumner RMW}
}
