Abstract
IN sheep, the density and fineness of the fleece are closely correlated. The denser fleeces are finer and shorter. This leads to the suggestion that the quantity of fibre formed by a follicle is to a large extent governed by the number of follicles which are close to it, and therefore to the concept that adjacent follicles compete with each other for a limited amount of fibre substrate. Evidence in support of this hypothesis can be deduced from several very different aspects of the growth of the fleece.
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References
Dry, F. W., New Zealand J. Agric., 48, 5 (1934).
Fraser, A. S., Ross, J. M., and Wright, G. M. (in the press).
Barker, S. G., Wool (1932).
Fraser, A. S., Ph.D. thesis, University of Edinburgh (1950).
Bergen, W. V., and Mauersberger, H. R., “American Wool Handbook” (New York, 1948).
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FRASER, A. Competition between Skin Follicles in Sheep. Nature 167, 202–203 (1951). https://doi.org/10.1038/167202b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/167202b0
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