Wool yield and fibre characteristics of intensively fed lambs

The reported study was conducted on Malpura lambs maintained on high (G1), medium (G2) and low (G3) digestible energy and protein containing creep mixtures in addition to free suckling and free choice pala leaves during pre weaning phase followed by optimum feeding from 3 to 6 months of age to assess their wool production and quality attributes. Six monthly greasy fleece yield was similar in the three groups ranging from 921 to 1165 g. However the yield was higher (P<0.01) in male (1.15 kg) than the female (0.89 kg) lambs. Both G1 and G3 lambs produced fleece of higher staple length than G2. The G3 lambs, previously maintained on low digestible energy and protein containing creep mixture, produced finer (P<0.01) fibres (33 μ) than G1 (40 μ). The distribution of hetero fibres was lower (P<0.01) in G1 (7%) than G2 and G3 (13%) whereas the hairy fibres ranged from 44 to 53% and were similar in the three groups. It is concluded from the study that G3 lambs, previously maintained on low digestible energy and protein containing creep mixture, produced finer fibres than other groups which was the reflection of their low plane of nutrition.