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Abstract
The prediction of length-after-carding parameters (especially barbe) by several fleece characteristics was examined with wool from 58 non-pregnant Romney ewes. During the winter, the sheep were housed indoors in five groups which were fed at different levels of nutrition in an attempt to increase the variation in staple strength. However, only the group fed at the lowest level (submaintenance) showed any major effect. Considerable variation in staple strength occurred within the groups. About 61 % of the variation in barbe was explained by a regression equation based on staple length, the staple strength of midside wool, and the mean fibre diameter determined by the air-flow method. Bulk, greasy, and clean fleeceweight, and the position of break in the staple did not improve the prediction. A marginal improvement resulted when air-flow fibre diameter was replaced by minimum diameter determined from monthly midside clippings. No major variations were found in the prediction equation as a result of using different staple strength measurements or using wool from other body positions.
