Fleece characteristics have economic significance in sheep. When assessing fiber characteristics, the importance of sex, age of sheep and the body location of the sample taken are important considerations. Triplicate fleece samples were obtained from the shoulder, right mid-side and hip of 12 male and 17 female lambs (6-10 months), 62 yearling ewes (14-20 months) and 235 mature ewes (28-84 months) by hand shearing. The greasy fleece weight, staple length, fiber length and fiber diameter measures were 2.1+/-0.03kg, 14+/-0.18cm, 24+/-0.26cm and 36+/-0.33&mgr;m, respectively. Correspondingly, the medullated fibers, inner coat, outer coat and kemp fibers were 11.6+/-0.33, 59.7+/-0.29, 34.0+/-0.23 and 6.3+/-0.16%, respectively. Age had a significant influence on body weight and greasy fleece weight, but male and females were similar. Body location of the sample had a significant effect on the fiber diameter, and percentages of medullated fibers, kemp fibers, and inner coat fibers. The finest fibers and a lower percentage of medullated fibers were found on the shoulder and mid-side, whereas, the percentage of inner coat fibers was highest on the hip. Although there was no significant interaction between body location and age-sex groups for fiber characteristics, it was important for staple and fiber length (P<0.05). The wide variation in fiber diameter and percentage of medullated fibers suggest potential for improvement of economical traits.

中文翻译：

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不同年龄阿瓦西羊羊毛特性的变化

羊毛特性对绵羊具有经济意义。在评估纤维特性时，性别、绵羊年龄和所取样本的身体位置的重要性是重要的考虑因素。手工从 12 只雄性和 17 只雌性羔羊（6-10 个月）、62 只一岁母羊（14-20 个月）和 235 只成熟母羊（28-84 个月）的肩部、右侧中部和臀部采集一式三份羊毛样品剪切。含脂羊毛重量、短纤维长度、纤维长度和纤维直径测量值分别为 2.1+/-0.03kg、14+/-0.18cm、24+/-0.26cm 和 36+/-0.33μm。相应地，有髓纤维、内涂层、外涂层和坎麻纤维分别为11.6+/-0.33、59.7+/-0.29、34.0+/-0.23和6.3+/-0.16%。年龄对体重和油腻羊毛重量有显着影响，但男性和女性相似。样品的主体位置对纤维直径以及有髓纤维、麻纤维和内涂层纤维的百分比有显着影响。在肩部和中部发现最细的纤维和较低百分比的有髓纤维，而臀部的内层纤维百分比最高。虽然身体位置和年龄-性别组之间的纤维特征没有显着的相互作用，但短纤维和纤维长度很重要（P <0.05）。纤维直径和有髓纤维百分比的广泛变化表明具有改善经济性状的潜力。而内层纤维的百分比在臀部最高。虽然身体位置和年龄-性别组之间的纤维特征没有显着的相互作用，但短纤维和纤维长度很重要（P <0.05）。纤维直径和有髓纤维百分比的广泛变化表明具有改善经济性状的潜力。而内层纤维的百分比在臀部最高。虽然身体位置和年龄-性别组之间的纤维特征没有显着的相互作用，但短纤维和纤维长度很重要（P <0.05）。纤维直径和有髓纤维百分比的广泛变化表明具有改善经济性状的潜力。