Characteristics of Angora rabbit fibre 2 -the influence of the methionine content in feed and of the environmental temperature on fibre and medulla diameter in angora wool

• Autores: S. Herrmann, K. Lange, F.J. Wortmann
• Localización: World Rabbit Science, ISSN-e 1989-8886, ISSN 1257-5011, Vol. 4, Nº. 3, 1996, págs. 155-158
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • The influence of different environmental factors on the Angora wool quality was determined whilst investigating the effect of the methionine content in feed and of the environmental temperature on fibre and medulla diameter.The supplementation of DL-methionine increases the mean fibre diameter of female Angora rabbits from 12.5 to 14.4 µm and that of males from 13.2 to 13.9 µm. lt is shown that females respond more (1.9 µm mean increase in fibre diameter) to methionine supplementation than males (0.7 µm increase). The response in medulla diameter is similar to that of the fibre diameter in females, i.e. medulla diameter increases (1 µm increase) when additional methionine is supplied. DL-methionine supplementation, however, was not observed to influence medulla diameter in males. Fibre and medulla diameter investigated in fleeces of castrates (14.3 µm and 5.8 µm) is equal to those of the females (14.4 µm and 5.8 µm) in the group offered the higher methionine diet.Fibre characteristics are also strongly influenced by climatic conditions. Raising the environmental temperature reduces fibre and medulla diameter in Angora rabbit fleeces. The highest fibre and medulla diameters was observed in animals maintained at a temperature of + 5 ºC (14.4 µm and 5.7 µm, respectively). Fibre and medulla diameters were reduced in animals kept at + 18 ºC (13.6 µm and 5.1 µm, respectively) and were finest at temperatures of + 30 ºC (13.0 µm and 4.7 µm, respectively).