The effects of fish meal and monensin supplementation of silage on the growth and composition Friesian steers was examined in winter and subsequently during grazing. Four-month-old steers were given grass silage ad libitum, alone (U) or mixed with fish meal and monensin at 100 and 0·005 g/ dry matter (DM) of silage (S) for 17 weeks. Empty body weight (EBW) and carcass weight (CW) gains were significantly increased by supplementation (810 v. 495, and 553 v. 332 g/day, respectively). Although treatment S steers were heavier, their composition at turn-out was similar to that of the treatment U animals: mean fat, crude protein (CP), water, ash and energy contents were 121, 187, 640, 51 g/kg and 9·10MJ/kg EBW, respectively. During the following 20 weeks, six animals from each treatment grazed a perennial ryegrass/white clover sward unsupplemented (UU and SU), supplemented with a fish meal/maize/molassine meal (50:35: 15) pelleted diet and monensin at 4 g/kg live weight (LW) per day and 0·1 mg/kg LW per day, respectively, (UMF and SMF). A further group of six steers from treatment S received the pelleted diet without monensin during grazing (SF). Steers from treatment U showed significant compensation in EBW and in carcass growth at pasture, irrespective of whether they received a supplement, which led to a marked reduction of the differences in EBW and CW by final slaughter. Composition at final slaughter showed no significant effect winter nutrition, with the exception of fat content (g/kg EBW), which was significantly lower animals from treatment SU. Steers from treatments UMF and SMF had slightly higher rates of fat, CP, water and energy deposition, which resulted in higher fat and lower water contents (g/kg EBW) than those from treatments UU and SU, although these differences were not significant. Steers on treatment SF had gains and final compositions intermediate between those on treatments SU and SMF. Supplementation was cost effective in winter, but marginal in summer.

Twenty-four Hereford ♂ × Friesian ♀ heifers were divided into four equal treatment groups and given subcutaneous ear implants as appropriate 14 days after prostaglandin treatment for the induction of synchronized cycles. Subsequently, they were observed for 75 days. One group was an untreated control, one was given 300 mg trenbolone acetate, one 36 mg zeranol and one 45 mg oestradiol-176. Growth and ovarian cyclicity, assessed by periodic progesterone measurement, were monitored. Trenbolone acetate-treated heifers grew faster (P < 0·05) than other groups which did not differ significantly. Trenbolone acetate shortened the oestrous cycle in which treatment was started in two of five heifers and lengthened it in two others. Subsequent cycles were either suppressed or of short duration. Zeranol and oestradiol-176 treatment had little effect on ovarian cyclicity apart from a small increase in the number of short cycles. It is concluded that, at the doses used, trenbolone acetate suppresses mechanisms leading to ovulation or pre-ovulatory follicular development.

A method for the iterative set-up of optimum designs for crossbreeding experiments was used to study the robustness of designs to differences in the biological interpretation of two-locus epistatic interaction. Designs could be found which are efficient for the estimation of genetic models including, alternatively, seven different types of epistatic effects. Also, the design efficiency of a large-scale beef cattle crossbreeding experiment between Angus and Hereford cattle conducted at the Clay Center, Nebraska, and reported by Koch, Dickerson, Cundiff and Gregory (1985) was investigated and found to be high (proportionately 0·88 of the optimum). It was concluded that choice of the right genetic groups (i.e. types of crossbreds) seems to be more important for a good design than the exact number of observations allocated to each group.

Measurements were made of the speed of ultrasound transmission through sites in the hind limbs of 125 pedigree Hereford bulls. Twenty-five of these were measured twice at weekly intervals on three occasions prior to slaughter to assess the short-term repeatability of the measurement and the magnitude of long-term changes. Analyses of variance of the means of the measurements at two sites showed that the residual standard deviation (within animal and occasion), was 0·01 (μs/cm. There was a decrease of 0·01 (μs/cm in the group mean over the 2-week period and a significant time × animal interaction. This showed that lipid concentration at the measurement sites decreased as the bulls adjusted to their new surroundings following delivery to the Institute's farm. When a separate group of 64 bulls was measured at the farm at which they were being reared an increase in the group mean of 0·006 iμs/cm was recorded over a 30·day period, indicating an increase in lipid concentration. The residual standard deviation for that group was 0·007 μs/cm, similar to that recorded above.

The mean of the reciprocal speeds at the two sites, when used in a multiple regression with live mass, yielded a residual standard deviation in predicted proportion of lean in the side of 20·0 g/kg and in total fat proportion of 22·1 g/kg. These corresponded to population standard deviations, adjusted for live mass, of 29·7 and 34·1 g/kg respectively. It was concluded that the measurement of ultrasound speed in the hind limbs of Hereford bulls could be used to predict lean proportion in the carcass. The method does not require subjective interpretation and responds equally to subcutaneous and interand intra-muscular fat.

Thirty-six male and thirty-six female lambs (mean live weight 31·6 kg) were used to investigate the effect of fish-meal supplementation upon voluntary intake of NaOH-treated straw in a 3 × 3 factorial experiment with three levels of fish meal (0, 45 and 90 g/day) and three allowances of concentrate (57, 10·0 and 14·3 g/kg live weight) (experiment 1). The fish meal × concentrate allowance interaction was significant (P < 0·05) for straw dry matter (DM), total DM and metabolizable energy (ME) intake. Thus, as concentrate allowance increased, straw DM intake remained largely unchanged when fish meal was included in the diet whereas concentrate progressively substituted for straw DM intake when fish meal was not included in the diet. Increasing concentrate levels increased total DM intake linearly for all levels of fish meal but the rate of increase was positively associated with level of fish meal.

In experiment 2, 24 castrated male lambs (mean live weight 40·7 kg) were used to measure apparent digestibilities and nitrogen (N) balance on four of the diets used in experiment 1. The overall effects of concentrate and fish-meal levels upon voluntary intake were similar to those found in experiment 1 but the interaction term was not significant either for intake or for the digestibility coefficients. Increasing fish-meal level increased apparent digestibility of DM, organic matter (OM) and aciddetergent fibre (ADF) (P < 0·01) while increasing concentrate allowance increased apparent digestibility of DM (P < 0·001) and OM (P < 0·01) but decreased that of ADF (F < 0·01). Nitrogen (N) retention was improved by the inclusion of fish meal in the diet (P < 0·001) and by high allowance of concentrate (P < 0·001).

The voluntary intake response observed in experiment 1 could not be explained by the digestibility and N balance results obtained in experiment 2.

Voluntary food intake (VFI) was measured daily and live weight (LW) was measured weekly in a total of 39 growing lambs of six genotypes given a similar complete chopped-straw based diet in experiments in 1983, 1985, 1987 and 1988. The six genotypes and the years of study were: Scottish Blackface (BF), 1983 and 1988; Suffolk × (Border Leicester × BF) (BL × BF), Suffolk × (East Friesland × Cheviot) (EF × NCC), Suffolk × (East Friesland × BF) (EF × BF), 1985; Welsh mountain (WM) and Beulah (BH), 1985. Measurements were made on lambs penned individually within 6 weeks of weaning at 5 to 6 months of age through to slaughter in the following spring. During this period there was an increase in LW and VFI associated with growth. Regression lines were fitted to LW and weekly means of daily VFI against week for each individual. Analysis of deviations about these lines showed a decline in VFI in BF lambs around December and to a lesser e×tent in BL × BF from December to January. The decline in VFI in BF was observed in two different years. A negative deviation from the normal rate of increase in LW was also apparent although it was much less marked and present in EF × NCC lambs as well as BF and BF × NCC. Any such variability of seasonal cycles between genotypes of growing lamb would influence the e×tent to which nutrition and growth may be manipulated. This should be considered when choosing a feeding or growth regime for a particular genotype, or vice versa.

Changes in plasma cortisol and B-endorphin concentrations and behaviour in sheep subjected to a change in environment have been studied. Three male and three female sheep were transferred from pasture to indoor crates for a 9-week period. Behaviour was observed by scan sampling for 1-h periods morning and afternoon 5 days/week. Blood samples were taken hourly for 24-h periods on days 1, 5, 30 and 60, and assayed for β-endorphin and cortisol.

Plasma cortisol concentration decreased significantly between days 30 and 60 (P < 0·001) but there was no significant change in plasma B-endorphin concentration over the experimental period. After an initial period of ‘withdrawal’ in weeks 2 and 3, when the amount of time spent resting increased, the occurrence of active behaviours increased with length of confinement. The results suggest that animals had not fully acclimatized to the new surroundings within the 9-week period. This raises important welfare issues concerning experimental animals.

Fifty Ethiopian Menz ewes maintained on pasture grazing with uncontrolled mating showed ovarian cyclicity at all times of the year. Conception rates to first, second and third service were 78, 18 and 4%, respectively. Mean post-partum anoestrous interval was 76·1 (s.e. 4·6) days. Two-thirds of ewes conceived before lamb weaning at 90 days and had 8 month lambing intervals. Twice weekly progesterone determinations showed that 67% of ewes exhibited a silent ovulation 66·4 (s.e. 10·5) days post partum, 12% of oestrous cycles were longer than 20 days and 8% of heats were false or anovulatory. It was concluded that Menz ewes have the natural potential for three lambings in 2 years, under adequate nutrition. Their better management and genetic improvement should further reduce current lambing intervals and increase annual reproductive rates.

The aim of this study was to compare responses to cold stress in newborn lambs and kids. Two experiments were conducted in a climatic chamber with controlled air temperatures and artificial wind and rain. The first experiment involved 25 Poll Dorset × (Border Leicester × Romney) lambs and 16 Angora × feral kids while the second involved 30 Suffolk × (Border Leicester × Romney) lambs and 26 Angora × feral kids. Rectal temperatures were measured and the rate of decline in rectal temperature estimated in both experiments. In the second experiment, metabolic rate was also measured and coat characteristics (birth coat depth and wool weight per unit area of skin) were examined. The effects of birth rank and sex on resistance to cold exposure and their interaction with species were examined in both experiments.

In experiment 1, kids had lower rectal temperatures than lambs at the start of the test but there was no species effect on the rate of decline in rectal temperature. In experiment 2, kids exhibited a significantly greater rate of decline in rectal temperature than did lambs. This difference in species effect between the experiments reflected primarily a greater rate of body cooling in the Poll Dorset-cross lambs (experiment 1) than in the Suffolk-cross lambs (experiment 2) rather than a difference between the kids in the two experiments. Additionally, in experiment 2, metabolic rate per unit live weight was significantly lower in the kids than in the lambs. No differences were apparent between the species in coat characters. Multiple-born lambs and kids were found to exhibit a significantly greater rate of decline in rectal temperature than singles, but only marginal differences in heat production were observed between the birth ranks. No significant effects of sex on resistance to cold stress were found in this study. Effects of birth rank and sex were additive with those of species. It is concluded that a combination of low heat production capacity and small body size is responsible for the generally poor responses of newborn kids to cold stress but there is probably little difference between lambs and kids in the insulative value of their birth coats.

The variation in the content of total protein, total casein, whey protein, α-casein, β-casein, k-casein, α-lactalbumin, β-lactoglobulin and ‘other’ whey proteins of the mammary secretion was studied in 44 goats of the Murciano-Granadina breed (Spain) from the 1st to the 4th day after parturition.

The concentration of all the protein variables showed a marked decrease from the 1st to the 4th day after parturition (P < 0·001). In whey proteins this decrease was more marked from the 1st (67·1 g/1) to the 2nd day after parturition (21·6 g/1), whereas the total caseins sharply decreased from the 2nd (62·6 g/1) to the 3rd day after parturition (39·0 g/1).

Stepwise discriminant analysis revealed that, except for the k-casein, all the proteins resulting from the electrophoretic fractionation had a discriminant power between the dates of sampling (P < 0·001). The multivariant analysis did not show statistical differences in the electrophoretic fractions corresponding to the samples on the 3rd and 4th days after parturition. According to such fractionation, the transition from colostrum to milk should take place on the 2nd day after parturition.

In the Mediterranean environment and subtropical microclimate of the south-east Iberian Peninsula (37° 59' N), testicle size and sexual behaviour of male goats were studied and the influence of season (day length, air temperature and relative humidity) on these factors examined.

Nine, 13-month-old Murciano-Granadina male goats weighing 47 to 53 kg were used. The experiment began during the month of January and extended for a complete year. Every 2 weeks, anterior-posterior maximum testis diameter was measured. They were tested twice a week for levels of sexual behaviour using ovariectomized goats and libido was evaluated as reaction time to mating.

The annual mean testis diameter was 5·06 (s.e. 0·02) cm, varying significantly with season of the year. The lowest values were measured during winter 4·89 (s.e. 0·03) cm. These increased (P <0·01) in spring (5·16 (s.e. 0·01) cm) and summer (5·19 (s.e. 0·02) cm), but decreased again (P <0·01) in the autumn (5·04 (s.e. 0·02) cm). The annual mean reaction time was 197 (s.e. 12) s, but was longest (P <0·01) in spring (318 (s.e. 30) s), and shortest during summer (144 (s.e. 16) s) and autumn (132 (s.e. 17) s). The testicle diameter measurement was correlated with day length (r = 0·41; P <0·01) and air temperature (r = 0·45; P<0·01), while the reaction time showed no relationship with climatic measurements.

It was concluded that day length is not the only factor responsible for seasonal variation in testis size of Murciano-Granadina male goats and that, in their natural habitat, libido is unlikely to be a limiting factor in the breeding programme.

Two experiments are reported in which a comparison was made of phase feeding and choice feeding as methods of meeting the changing amino acid requirements of growing pigs. In the first experiment, three feeding strategies were used: a system in which a single food (165 g protein per kg food) was offered throughout the growth period; a phase-feeding system, using five different treatments; and three choice-feeding treatments, in which the two diets offered differed only in their protein concentrations. The second experiment consisted of six treatments, three of which constituted a single feeding system, being a high, a medium, (the control) and a low protein food (240, 165 and 100 g protein per kg); there were two phase-feeding treatments, of three and five phases; and one treatment in which a choice was offered of the high and the low protein foods. In both experiments, group data were collected on Landrace × Large White pigs, sexes separate, during the growing period (30 to 90 kg). All pigs were weighed weekly, as was the amount of food consumed in each pen of 10 animals. Phase feeding improved food conversion efficiency (+4·4 g/kg) and caused a decline in both food intake (−45·3 g) and P2 backfat thickness (−0·4 mm) with each increment in the number of phases used. Results of the choice feeding treatments were not statistically significantly different from either the control or the phase feeding treatments. The intake of dietary protein was higher in the choice treatments than in the control (420 v. 370 g in experiment 1 and 345 v. 334 g in experiment 2). Where the two foods on offer differed only in protein content, pigs reduced the proportion of high protein food in the combination chosen by 0037 and 0·059 per week in the two experiments respectively, these linear trends being statistically highly significant. They were less successful in differentiating between the high protein food and maize, the proportion of high protein food chosen decreasing at a statistically significant rate of 0018 per week, but where the maize had not been supplemented with vitamins and minerals there was no significant trend in the way in which the pigs selected their diet, demonstrating the importance of the correct design of the two foods on offer in a choice-feeding programme.

By tracing 14C after an injection of [U-14C] sodium acetate into the caecum of pigs, it was found that proportionately 0·93 of the acetate injected was absorbed. About 0·25 of the administered acetate was recovered in the body 96 h later. It is assumed that the remainder was oxidized during this period and exhaled as carbon dioxide.

The 14C initially predominated in plasma lipids, but it progressively shifted over the 96 h to plasma proteins. In the lipid fraction of blood plasma there was a continuous shift of 14C from triglycerides and free cholesterol to cholesterol esters over the 96-h period of measurement.

In the body most of the 14C was recovered in the fat, liver and intestinal wall. The highest concentration of 14C was in the bile, especially in glycine-conjugated bile acids.

It was shown that the absorbed acetate was a source of energy to the pigs and it was recycled and metabolized into more complex components in the body during 96 h.

Forty pigs (half each of females and entire males) were used in an ad libitum feeding experiment from weaning to 33 kg live weight (LW). In period 1 to 16 kg LW, the pigs had either food L (134 g crude protein (CP) per kg) or food H (278 g CP per kg) alone. The aim was to delay the growth of pigs on L and create two groups of pigs with different body compositions. At 16 kg LW, eight pigs were killed and their empty bodies chemically analysed. The pigs given L had 1·06 (s.e. 0·08) kg more lipid and a lower protein: ash ratio in their empty body than pigs on H; growth rates, from 9 to 16 kg LW, were 386 (L) and 591 (H) (s.e.d. 17)g/day. Both aims were thus achieved.

In period 2 the pigs previously given L (no. = 16) or H (no. = 16) in period 1, were given L alone (no. = 4), H alone (no. = 4) or a choice between L and H (no. = 8) to 33 kg LW when the choice-fed pigs were killed and their empty bodies chemically analysed. The objective of the experiment was to test the idea that pigs previously given a food deficient in CP, when given a choice between foods, one of high and one of low, protein content will select a diet of a composition that allows them to correct the effects of the previous mis-feeding. The pigs given L alone in period 2 grew more slowly, and ate more per day, than those given H alone, with no effect of the food given in period 1. Of those given H alone in period 2, the pigs previously given L grew faster, and were more efficient, than those previously given H.

The protein contents (g CP per kg food) of the diets selected by the choice-fed pigs were significantly affected by both sex (228 for males v. 181 for females; s.e.d. 15) and the food given in period 1 (233 for L and 175 for H; s.e.d. 15) with no significant interaction between these factors. The pigs from L grew faster (1039 v. 780 (s.e.d. 70) g/day) had a higher daily food intake (1420 v. 1319 (s.e.d. 71) g/day) and were more efficient (0·736 v. 0·595 (s.e.d. 0·034) g gain per g food) than those from H. At 33 kg LW lipid weights were similar for the two period 1 treatments (L had 0·40 (s.e. 0·54) kg more lipid than H); females had 1·79 (s.e. 0·54) kg more lipid than males.

It is concluded that, where pigs are given a choice between foods of low and high protein contents, they will select a diet of a composition such that the effects of previous mis-feeding are corrected. Giving pigs a choice between an appropriate pair of foods allows them to select a diet of a composition suitable for their needs.

A total of 805 Lacombe pigs of different genotype with respect to halothane sensitivity (halothane positive, nn = 205; heterozygote, Nn = 214; halothane negative, NN = 386) were slaughtered over a range in live weight (70 to 120 kg) to assess tissue growth patterns using the allometric equation (y = aXh). The nn genotype was older at slaughter than the NN genotype, but pigs from each genotype were killed over a similar weight range. The relative growth of the primal cuts was influenced by genotype, with nn pigs having a lower coefficient for the bottom shoulder (picnic) and a higher coefficient for the belly. The relative growth of bone was similar for genotypes (P > 0·05) but the relative growth of lean was lower and the relative growth of total fat and depot fat (subcutaneous and intermuscular) was higher for the nn genotype compared with the Nn and NN genotypes. On a within-tissue basis, the relative growth of the tissues in each primal was similar, except for the ham, where the relative growth of lean was higher for nn pigs compared with the two other genotypes. Small differences in tissue distribution were evident, but seldom exceeded 30 g/kg. Although nn pigs had a higher lean content and higher lean: bone ratio than Nn or NN pigs at similar live weights, their relative advantage in composition decreased with increasing live weight.

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of feeding level and semen collection frequency on semen quantity and quality of 62 Yorkshire boars at two artificial insemination centres during 10 successive periods of 2 weeks. The experiment had a 2 × 2 factorial design with two feeding levels (2·75 and 3·5 kg/day) and two semen collection frequencies (three and five times in 2 weeks).

In the first 2-week period boars on the high frequency semen collection scheme produced 94 × 109 sperm cells more than boars on the low scheme. In periods 2 to 10 the mean difference was only 18 × 109 sperm cells. Boars on the high feeding level produced 32 × 109 sperm cells more per 2-week period than the boars on the low feeding level (P < 0·05). Boars at the high collection frequency and the high feeding level tended to produce a higher number of sperm cells during periods 2 to 10 than the boars on the high semen collection frequency and the low feeding level (P > 0·05). No effects of food intake or semen collection frequency on semen quality were found.

Ultrasonic probe data were available on 199 crossbred pigs (98 females, 101 barrows). These animals were probed at approximately 30, 50, 70, 100 and 120 kg live weight with two probing instruments (Krautkramer USM2, Combison 310) at three sites along the back. The measurements were examined as predictors of the proportion of valuable cuts (part dissection) and estimated lean concentration (at 100 and 120 kg live weight).

The standard deviations for proportion of valuable cuts (after correcting for sex effects) were 24·8, 26·7, 23·4, 27·1 and 29·4 g/kg at 30, 50, 70, 100 and 120 kg. Residual s.d. for predicting proportion of valuable cuts from live weight and ultrasonic probes (Combison, quotient fat to muscle area) were 190, 20·9, 19·3, 213 and 19·6. For the USM2, the residual s.d.s were 19·2, 26·3, 19·9, 25·1 and 24·6. Thus the Combison probe provided a better prediction of proportion of valuable cuts. The standard deviations of estimated lean concentration as determined by a Fat-O-Meater reflectance probe were 28·9 and 39·3 at 100 and 120 kg live weight. The residual s.d.s from live weight and ultrasonic measurements were 15·4 and 19·2 for the Combison probe and 21·5 and 20·5 for the USM2 probe. If the estimated lean concentration is accepted as a selection objective the value of ultrasonic probes as criteria in selection indices will increase.

Thirty-six 7-month-old gilts were used to study the effects of different levels of a-tocopherol (13, 48, 136 mg/kg food) and different source of fat (50 g/kg sunflower oil or animal fat) in gestation and lactation diets on α-tocopherol concentration in serum, colostrum and milk and on cell-mediated and humoral immune response of lactating sows.

Blood samples were taken from six sows per treatment after farrowing and at weaning (28 days of lactation) and were analysed for α-tocopherol concentration, total number of leucocytes and T- and B-lymphocyte counts. In blood lymphocyte stimulation with concanavaline, lysozyme activity and immunoglobulin concentration were also measured. In milk samples α-tocopherol and immunoglobulin concentration were determined at farrowing and at weaning. It was concluded that a high α-tocopherol level in the sow's diet including either sunflower oil or animal fat increased as expected the serum α-tocopherol concentration (P < 0·05) just after farrowing and at weaning. In colostrum the combination of high α-tocopherol with animal fat gave the highest (P < 0·05) α-tocopherol concentration. At weaning α-tocopherol in milk fat was highest in both fat groups with extra high α-tocopherol in the diet. The cell-mediated immunity of sows as tested were not systematically affected by α-tocopherol supplementation or fat addition to diet. However, the humoral immune system may be affected by the combinations of α-tocopherol and fat given.

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary cimaterol, a β-adrenergic agonist, on growth, carcass characteristics and pelt quality of kit mink. The 40 standard dark and 40 sapphire mink kits were assigned to a control or to one of three treatment groups (five males and five females of each colour phase per group). Treatment consisted of the inclusion of 0·5, 2 and 5 mg cimaterol per kg (dry) of a standard ranch mink diet (control). All animals were weighed at the initiation of the experiment (24 July) and at 28-day intervals until 16 October. At slaughter (12 December) body weights were recorded and pelts measured for length and evaluated for fur colour and quality by experienced fur graders. Samples of fur from similar sites on each animal were removed for measurement of guard hair and underfur diameter. Frozen carcasses were analysed for protein and fat content. Mink final weight decreased with increasing concentrations of dietary cimaterol (P < 0·05). Pelt length, which was found to be highly correlated with body size, was also reduced by cimaterol treatment. Feeding 2 and 5 mg cimaterol per kg diet to male kits, and 5 mg/kg to female kits caused a significant reduction in the proportion of carcass fat and increased the proportion of carcass protein (P < 0·05). Fur fibre diameter for both guard hair and underfur was not significantly affected by dietary cimaterol. There was also no significant effect of cimaterol treatment on fur quality. Cimaterol treatment did not result in diversion of nutrients from body proteins to the synthesis of fur and pelt proteins. Results of this research indicate that oral administration of cimaterol to mink will be of little practical value in fur production.

A study was made of the wool production of 490 females and 137 males of a strain of French Angora rabbit. The female adults weighed 4107 g and produced 249 g of wool every 14 weeks. Production was low for the first harvest (35 g) which consisted mainly of short wool. It then increased rapidly (203 g for the third harvest). After the third harvest, three-quarters of long wool was also bristly. The length of bristles (102 mm) decreased by 4 mm, and that of downs (62 mm) increased by 3 mm when the harvest number went from two to four. The coefficient of correlation between wool production and live weight was lower than 0·30. Adult females born in autumn produced 16 g more than those born in summer. Wool production was at a maximum during autumn and winter harvests and at a minimum in summer.

Winter fleeces had longer bristles and down than summer ones. Males produced well wool than females. When a female dropped a litter, her wool production decreases by proportionately 0·1 to 0·2. Bristly fleeces were clearly different from woolly fleeces on account of higher weight, homogeneity and compression. Objective criteria to evaluate tautness will have to found.