HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Stobart, R. H. Articles by Parker, C. F. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Stobart, R. H. Articles by Parker, C. F.

Processing Characteristics of Polypay Wool¹

University of Wyoming, Laramie 82071

Abstract

Fiber characteristics of raw and processed wool from 40 fleeces shorn from four age groups of Polypay ewes managed at the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station (USSES), Dubois, Idaho were studied. Fleeces were from ewes 1, 2, 3 and 4+ yr of age, with 10 fleeces being selected at random to represent each age group. No differences were observed in grease fleece measurements among the four age groups in fiber fineness, tensile strength or fleece weight. However, staple length for 1-yr-old ewes was longer than for the other three age groups (P<.05). Few differences were apparent in the amount of noils and other waste products among age groups; however, the 4-yr-old lot had the least proportion of top and the highest percentage of noils. Analysis of processed top indicated no differences in fiber diameter, fiber length or bundle strength. Wool from this sub-sample of the Polypay breed under USSES management would be of a less desirable level of quality for use in the worsted system of processing, but would be highly acceptable for use in the woolen system. The percentage of top obtained from scoured wool may not be acceptable to a topmaker because of the high level of waste (noils) associated with this type of wool. Additionally, yarns produced do not have acceptable evenness values when compared with Uster standard values (values or statistics derived from tests conducted on wool yarns world-wide, providing data to evaluate acceptability of yarns of similar type). These yarns have more imperfections (thin places, thick places and neps) than corresponding Uster standards, indicating that they would produce fabrics of marginal quality. The yarns exhibited lower strength values when compared with Uster standards, which would increase costs associated with spinning the yarns.

¹ Published with the approval of the Director, Univ. of Wyoming Exp. Sta. as Scientific Paper No. Ja. 1385.

² Dept. of Anim. Sci.

³ Present address: Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science, Philadelphia, PA 19144.

⁴ Present address: USDA-Agr. Res. Ser., U.S. Sheep Exp. Sta., Dubois, ID 83423.