No description available.

Choice of shearing time is one of the major management decisions for a wool-producing Merino flock and affects many aspects of wool production and sheep health. Previous studies have investigated the effect of shearing on only a few of these factors at a time, so that there is little objective information at the flock level for making rational decisions on shearing time. This is particularly the case for flocks that lamb in spring, the preferred time in south-eastern Australia. / A trial was conducted in a self-replacing, fine wool Merino flock in western Victoria, from January 1999 to May 2004, comparing ewes shorn annually in December, March or May. Within each of these shearing times, progeny were shorn in one of two different patterns, aligning them with their adult shearing group by 15–27 months of age. / Time of shearing did not consistently improve the staple strength of wool. December-shorn ewes produced significantly lighter and finer fleeces (average 19.1 μm, 3.0 kg clean weight), whereas fleeces from March-shorn ewes were heavier and coarser (19.4 μm, 3.1 kg). Fleeces from ewes shorn in May were of similar weight to fleeces from March-shorn ewes (3.1 kg), but they were of significantly broader diameter (19.7 μm). In young sheep, beneficial changes in some wool characteristics for each shearing group were offset by undesirable changes in others. / Shearing ewes in March or May, and weaners in March, May or June, significantly increased the risk of post-shearing mortality about three- and four-fold, respectively, compared to unshorn sheep. Substantial, highly significant associations in young sheep between post-weaning mortality, bodyweight and growth rate were also quantified using various survival analysis techniques. For example, the lightest 20% of weaners at weaning contributed 31% of all deaths in the year following weaning, and increasing average growth rate over summer and autumn from 250 to 500 g/month reduced the risk of death by 74%. These results could be used to develop supplementary feeding systems that efficiently reduce weaner mortality, which is a significant animal welfare issue in many Australian Merino flocks. / Mortality effects were incorporated into estimates of the total value of wool produced by the different shearing times between birth and culling at 6¼ years of age. Using median historical (1991–2006) wool prices, shearing ewes in March and their progeny first in June, or October (weaner)-December (ewe) shearing produced the greatest total value of wool ($111/head). March (weaners)-March (ewes) shearing had a wool value of $107/head and December (weaners)-December (adults) shearing $103/head. May-shorn ewes produced the smallest value of wool, irrespective of whether their progeny were first shorn in May or July ($93–96/head). / No shearing time consistently improved all animal health measures. May-shorn ewes had significantly more fleece rot in late autumn than the other shearing groups (odds ratio 2.5) and were up to 0.4 condition score lighter during winter, although they had a lower cost of dag (average $0.64/head) and significantly less breech strike risk in spring, compared to December-shorn ewes (odds ratio 0.18). December-shorn ewes had the greatest cost of dag ($1.50/head). March-shorn ewes had an intermediate cost of dag ($1.03/head) but significantly less breech strike than May-shorn ewes (odds ratio 0.38).Overall, December and March shearing were shown to be appropriate alternatives for a self-replacing Merino flock in south-eastern Australia, whereas May was an undesirable shearing time.

The background to the study is the construction industry's global environmental impact. In this study, it is investigated whether CLT (cross laminated timber) and sheep wool insulation is a building technology alternative in an exterior wall based on today’s building standards. To find out if CLT and sheep wool insulation are an alternative for an external wall construction, a literature study and hand calculations were carried out. The literature study summarizes regulations from Boverket BFS 2020:4 regarding moisture, fire, energy and sound requirements. In order to assess how an external wall made of CLT and sheep wool insulation works, three different external wall constructions were developed. Hand calculations were used to determine the heat transfer coefficient and relative vapor of the wall proposals. The results from the calculations show that all wall proposals work with regard to moisture and thermal comfort. Both sheep wool and CLT have a high specific heat capacity, but the volumetric heat capacity and the location of the material determines whether it affects the indoor environment. The study shows that the fire properties of sheep wool mean that the placement of the sheep wool insulation is decisive for whether the wall will be fireproof or not. Calculations of penetration depth in case of fire for CLT show that CLT is a suitable material from a fire point of view. The design flexibility of CLT means that the construction can be adapted so that the sound insulation requirements are met for buildings with special requirements. 54% of the sheep wool produced in Sweden is discarded, according to calculations, the discarded sheep wool can insulate external walls for approx. 11% of the detached houses produced annually. A study was conducted on whether wool can cause allergies, the information does not indicate that sheep wool insulation can cause allergies. The study concludes that combining sheep wool insulation with CLT is possible however the use of CLT is more justified in a multi-storey house than a single-family house. / Bakgrunden till studien är byggbranschens globala miljöpåverkan. I den här studien utreds det om KL-trä (korslimmat trä) och fårullsisolering är ett byggnadstekniskt alternativ i en yttervägg utifrån dagens byggnadsstandard. För att ta reda på om KL-trä och fårullsisolering är ett alternativ för en ytterväggskonstruktion genomfördes en litteraturstudie och handberäkningar. Litteraturstudien sammanfattar föreskrifter från Boverkets byggregler BFS 2020:4 gällande fukt-, brand-, energi- och ljudkrav. För att bedöma hur en yttervägg uppbyggd av KL-trä och fårullsisolering fungerar togs tre olika ytterväggskonstruktioner fram. Med handberäkningar bestämdes väggförslagens värmegenomgångskoefficient och relativa ånghalt. Resultatet från beräkningarna visar att samtliga väggförslag fungerar med avseende på fukt och termisk komfort. Både fårull och KL-trä har hög specifik värmekapacitet men materialets volymetriska värmekapacitet och placering avgör om den påverkar inomhusmiljön. Studien visar att fårullens brandegenskaper gör att placeringen av fårullsisoleringen är avgörande för om väggen blir brandsäker eller inte. Beräkningar av inträngningsdjup vid brand för KL-trä visar att KL-trä är ett lämpligt material ur brandsynpunkt. Designflexibliteten hos KL-trä gör att konstruktionen kan anpassas så att ljudisoleringskraven uppnås för byggnader med särskilda krav. 54% av den i Sverige producerade fårullen kasseras, enligt beräkningar kan den kasserade fårullen isolera ytterväggar i ca. 11% av småhusen som produceras årligen. Det gjordes en undersökning om ull kan framkalla allergi, informationen tyder inte på att fårullsisolering kan orsaka allergi.  Studien kommer fram till att kombinera fårullsisolering med KL-trä är möjligt och att användande av KL-trä är mer motiverat i ett flervåningshus än ett småhus.

No description available.

No description available.

Thesis (M. Ag. Sci.)--University of Adelaide, 1978. / Includes bibliographical references.

Studies were conducted to determine basic aspects of intake and digestion of native pastures by young sheep in the Falkland Islands, and to evaluate practical methods to improve the productivity of these animals. The studies were conducted in support of Industry and Government initiatives to reinvigorate Falklands’ agriculture. The current industry is based on broad diameter wools harvested from sheep grazing poor quality native pastures, and sheep suffer low growth rates, poor productivity and high mortality, and farmers rely on small flocks to produce a single commodity for their total income. The dramatic collapse of wool markets in the 1980’s crippled the Falklands’ wool industry and farmers have relied heavily on subsidies for more than 12 years. The studies in this thesis were initiated to support the efforts to reinvigorate Falklands’ agriculture, and they examined basic aspects of the nutrition provided to sheep by native pastures and evaluated practical methods to improve the survival of sheep, their subsequent rate of growth and productive value to the economy. Five studies examined specific hypotheses posed at the outset of the research programme and they were broadly supported by the data presented in the thesis: · A wether trial was used to benchmark the productivity of wool sheep in the Islands, and the trial demonstrated that substantial genetic variation exists within the national flock that may be exploited in the future to improve the productivity of the wool industry, · Microhistological techniques were used in conjunction with n-alkane marker technology to investigate the diets consumed by sheep grazing native pastures. The diet studies concluded that the low quality of native pasture in the Falklands during autumn, winter and spring restricts growth and productivity of young sheep, · Studies with weaner sheep treated with controlled release anthelmintics established that infection with gastrointestinal nematodes exacerbates poor nutrition of young sheep consuming native pastures, · A short-term metabolism study demonstrated that native pasture hay fortified with molasses and urea, or winter forage crops may be used as supplements to enhance sheep productivity, and · Forage crops were grown and evaluated under Falklands’ conditions, and when lambs were fed the resulting highly productive and nutritious forages, the study demonstrated that lamb growth can be increased significantly, and lamb carcasses offer local farmers the potential to diversify farm income by using existing Falklands’-bred lambs to develop an export meat industry The data presented in this thesis demonstrate that the potential to improve the productive and financial position of Falklands’ farmers is substantial. If both the local Industry and Government maintain their joint commitment to industry-restructure, pastoral development and enterprise diversification, the Falklands’ agricultural economy stands to benefit considerably by adopting low risk solutions to address widespread problems.

Studies were conducted to determine basic aspects of intake and digestion of native pastures by young sheep in the Falkland Islands, and to evaluate practical methods to improve the productivity of these animals. The studies were conducted in support of Industry and Government initiatives to reinvigorate Falklands’ agriculture. The current industry is based on broad diameter wools harvested from sheep grazing poor quality native pastures, and sheep suffer low growth rates, poor productivity and high mortality, and farmers rely on small flocks to produce a single commodity for their total income. The dramatic collapse of wool markets in the 1980’s crippled the Falklands’ wool industry and farmers have relied heavily on subsidies for more than 12 years. The studies in this thesis were initiated to support the efforts to reinvigorate Falklands’ agriculture, and they examined basic aspects of the nutrition provided to sheep by native pastures and evaluated practical methods to improve the survival of sheep, their subsequent rate of growth and productive value to the economy. Five studies examined specific hypotheses posed at the outset of the research programme and they were broadly supported by the data presented in the thesis: · A wether trial was used to benchmark the productivity of wool sheep in the Islands, and the trial demonstrated that substantial genetic variation exists within the national flock that may be exploited in the future to improve the productivity of the wool industry, · Microhistological techniques were used in conjunction with n-alkane marker technology to investigate the diets consumed by sheep grazing native pastures. The diet studies concluded that the low quality of native pasture in the Falklands during autumn, winter and spring restricts growth and productivity of young sheep, · Studies with weaner sheep treated with controlled release anthelmintics established that infection with gastrointestinal nematodes exacerbates poor nutrition of young sheep consuming native pastures, · A short-term metabolism study demonstrated that native pasture hay fortified with molasses and urea, or winter forage crops may be used as supplements to enhance sheep productivity, and · Forage crops were grown and evaluated under Falklands’ conditions, and when lambs were fed the resulting highly productive and nutritious forages, the study demonstrated that lamb growth can be increased significantly, and lamb carcasses offer local farmers the potential to diversify farm income by using existing Falklands’-bred lambs to develop an export meat industry The data presented in this thesis demonstrate that the potential to improve the productive and financial position of Falklands’ farmers is substantial. If both the local Industry and Government maintain their joint commitment to industry-restructure, pastoral development and enterprise diversification, the Falklands’ agricultural economy stands to benefit considerably by adopting low risk solutions to address widespread problems.

Studies were conducted to determine basic aspects of intake and digestion of native pastures by young sheep in the Falkland Islands, and to evaluate practical methods to improve the productivity of these animals. The studies were conducted in support of Industry and Government initiatives to reinvigorate Falklands’ agriculture. The current industry is based on broad diameter wools harvested from sheep grazing poor quality native pastures, and sheep suffer low growth rates, poor productivity and high mortality, and farmers rely on small flocks to produce a single commodity for their total income. The dramatic collapse of wool markets in the 1980’s crippled the Falklands’ wool industry and farmers have relied heavily on subsidies for more than 12 years. The studies in this thesis were initiated to support the efforts to reinvigorate Falklands’ agriculture, and they examined basic aspects of the nutrition provided to sheep by native pastures and evaluated practical methods to improve the survival of sheep, their subsequent rate of growth and productive value to the economy. Five studies examined specific hypotheses posed at the outset of the research programme and they were broadly supported by the data presented in the thesis: · A wether trial was used to benchmark the productivity of wool sheep in the Islands, and the trial demonstrated that substantial genetic variation exists within the national flock that may be exploited in the future to improve the productivity of the wool industry, · Microhistological techniques were used in conjunction with n-alkane marker technology to investigate the diets consumed by sheep grazing native pastures. The diet studies concluded that the low quality of native pasture in the Falklands during autumn, winter and spring restricts growth and productivity of young sheep, · Studies with weaner sheep treated with controlled release anthelmintics established that infection with gastrointestinal nematodes exacerbates poor nutrition of young sheep consuming native pastures, · A short-term metabolism study demonstrated that native pasture hay fortified with molasses and urea, or winter forage crops may be used as supplements to enhance sheep productivity, and · Forage crops were grown and evaluated under Falklands’ conditions, and when lambs were fed the resulting highly productive and nutritious forages, the study demonstrated that lamb growth can be increased significantly, and lamb carcasses offer local farmers the potential to diversify farm income by using existing Falklands’-bred lambs to develop an export meat industry The data presented in this thesis demonstrate that the potential to improve the productive and financial position of Falklands’ farmers is substantial. If both the local Industry and Government maintain their joint commitment to industry-restructure, pastoral development and enterprise diversification, the Falklands’ agricultural economy stands to benefit considerably by adopting low risk solutions to address widespread problems.

Studies were conducted to determine basic aspects of intake and digestion of native pastures by young sheep in the Falkland Islands, and to evaluate practical methods to improve the productivity of these animals. The studies were conducted in support of Industry and Government initiatives to reinvigorate Falklands’ agriculture. The current industry is based on broad diameter wools harvested from sheep grazing poor quality native pastures, and sheep suffer low growth rates, poor productivity and high mortality, and farmers rely on small flocks to produce a single commodity for their total income. The dramatic collapse of wool markets in the 1980’s crippled the Falklands’ wool industry and farmers have relied heavily on subsidies for more than 12 years. The studies in this thesis were initiated to support the efforts to reinvigorate Falklands’ agriculture, and they examined basic aspects of the nutrition provided to sheep by native pastures and evaluated practical methods to improve the survival of sheep, their subsequent rate of growth and productive value to the economy. Five studies examined specific hypotheses posed at the outset of the research programme and they were broadly supported by the data presented in the thesis: · A wether trial was used to benchmark the productivity of wool sheep in the Islands, and the trial demonstrated that substantial genetic variation exists within the national flock that may be exploited in the future to improve the productivity of the wool industry, · Microhistological techniques were used in conjunction with n-alkane marker technology to investigate the diets consumed by sheep grazing native pastures. The diet studies concluded that the low quality of native pasture in the Falklands during autumn, winter and spring restricts growth and productivity of young sheep, · Studies with weaner sheep treated with controlled release anthelmintics established that infection with gastrointestinal nematodes exacerbates poor nutrition of young sheep consuming native pastures, · A short-term metabolism study demonstrated that native pasture hay fortified with molasses and urea, or winter forage crops may be used as supplements to enhance sheep productivity, and · Forage crops were grown and evaluated under Falklands’ conditions, and when lambs were fed the resulting highly productive and nutritious forages, the study demonstrated that lamb growth can be increased significantly, and lamb carcasses offer local farmers the potential to diversify farm income by using existing Falklands’-bred lambs to develop an export meat industry The data presented in this thesis demonstrate that the potential to improve the productive and financial position of Falklands’ farmers is substantial. If both the local Industry and Government maintain their joint commitment to industry-restructure, pastoral development and enterprise diversification, the Falklands’ agricultural economy stands to benefit considerably by adopting low risk solutions to address widespread problems.