MASSEY AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.

Wairarapa Age, 6 July 1932, Page 3

MASSEY AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.

MONTHLY BULLETIN. WOOL QUALITY AND ITS IMPROVEMENT. A SUGGESTION FOB THE SHEEP INDUSTRY. (By R. Waters.) Following is the second and concluding section of an article on wool quality, the first section of which appeared yesterday:— Cotting. Finally, the “cotted fleece,” a common and most apparent defect greatly reducing market value, also appears connected with decrease in rate of growth and due to seasonal and to constitutional or hereditary influences. In a comprehensive experiment made nt the College, the rate of growth of one fleece so affected dropped to the extent of ninety per cent. (of its former rate) during the period that the cot was being formed. Other fleeces under the same conditions dropped nothing like this amount, and some developed no obvious defect during the same period. It is easy to demonstrate that many cf the fibres about a cot are considerably reduced in their thickness, and that many have been actually shed —their shed ends being tangled both with one another and with fibres still connected with the skin. This tangle of fibres makes the fleece difficult or impossible to separate. Moreover, apart from the matted or tangled condition of a cotted fleece, other defects are liable to set in. In some cases it appears as if the matted condition actually presents an obstruc' tion to the flow of yolk towards the tips of the locks; for the naturally free ends of the locks beyond the cot are leached, dry and devoid of yolk, whilst between the cot and the skin the yolk accumulates, and sometimes cakes and even stains the fleece to an extent that defies the best scouring processes. Seasonal and Constitutional or Hereditary Defects. All of the defects so far considered have been grouped under this heading because the study made of them has led to the opinion that they arise from like causes. These defects, though widespread and present in flocks of very different merit, are not uniformly obvious in different seasons or localities. Some seasons and localities more than ethers “find out” the more susceptible individuals because of the prevalence of contributory seasonal conditions. A precise knowledge of what these conditions are might certainly be of immediate help towards raising cur standard of quality —much could no doubt be done, at least with the last three defects, by improving the feed conditions. Such knowledge could probably not be applied without expense, which would recur as long as the tendency was allowed to exist. Nevertheless, experiments might wisely be made with hopeful measures applied at the time when these last three defects commonly occur—May to August.

The first steps towards the eradication of this group of defects have been taken in the study of their nature and development, for it is of the first importance that they shall be readily detected even when their presence is inconspicuous; for minor tendencies are not unimportant in breeding.

Thereafter the introduction of these considerations into the general, end also into a special selection of breeding animals would be the course indicated; for individual susceptibility is commonly suggested as the basal cause, inasmuch as only a proportion of a flock are commonly affectfed, and there is also some evidence that it is the same portion that exhibits susceptibility in different years. Time Required For Improving Flocks.

The process of permanently improving the flocks of the Dominion in these respects must proceed simultaneously with aims to accomplish other requisite characters. Fortunately these defects call more for the introduction of fresh knowledge and its careful application rather than great immediate expense, and although improvements might be effected in the first year, yet several years would elapse before a broad attainment of ideals would commence to be realised. This, however, should be regarded as the reason why early attempts should be made; for despite the unprecedented state of the market there is at present extraordinary scientific and practical activity devoted to wool and kindred problems both in the tnanufacturing and the producing countries of the world, and the demands will be greater, and the prospects will no doubt be better, for those countries which quickly enlarge their knowledge and promptly meet ''and overcome their problems. Summary. Mention has now been made of one group comprising some of the commonest and best known defects in our wool, but there are still other important groups contributing as surely to dissatisfaction with our quality, mention for instance has been made of hairiness. ” Sufficient, however, has been said to indicate that, in all classes, wool quality —by which we may expect to attract more purchasers tn this country; by which WQ may reasonably hope to improve the confidence, the demand and the price, and eventually to restore in some appreciable measure the stupendous loss in annual revenue from what was once little short of our most remunerative Industry; by which we may meet the scientific advance and future competition of other countries —is dependent for its improvement largely upon three points. Firstly, it depends upon a full appreciation of the nature, distribution, and causes of avoidable defects now operating against us;

secondly, upon a wide application of the practical and scientific knowledge at our disposal immediately to effect or start all possible improvements; and, thirdly, upon the further discovery of the fundamental principles with which to ensure that the past good work in improving the flocks of this country may be steadily maintained.