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Wool follicle development, wool growth and body growth in lambs treated from birth with recombinantly derived bovine somatotropin

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

Y. X. Sun ,
A. Michel ,
G. A. Wickham  and
S. N. McCutcheon
Y. X. Sun
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
A. Michel
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
G. A. Wickham
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
S. N. McCutcheon
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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Abstract

The effect of recombinantly derived bovine somatotropin (bST) administration on wool follicle populations, wool growth and body growth was examined in young lambs. Romney × (Border Leicester × Romney) lambs were treated with bST at doses of 0·1 or 0·3 mg/kg live weight per day, or with excipient, commencing on the day of birth and continuing at weekly intervals until the last injection was given at 11 weeks of age. Concentrations of immunoreactive somatotropin in plasma were 19·2 (s.e. 2·1), 65·2 (s.e. 2·8) and 74·7 (s.e. 4·8) μgll in the control, low dose bST and high dose bST groups, respectively. Somatotropin treatment did not alter the density of primary (P) or secondary (S) follicles in the skin, or the S/P ratio, as measured by histological examination of mid-side skin biopsy samples at 14 weeks of age. Mid-side greasy and clean wool growth during weeks 2 to 14 of the study were increased (P < 0·05) in bST-treated lambs but treatment had no effect on wool growth during the immediate post-treatment period (weeks 14 to 22), or on yearling fleece weight or wool quality characteristics. Body growth was not altered by bST administration. It is concluded that bST treatment stimulates wool growth even in very young lambs but, contrary to the results of a previous study, does not alter the development of wool follicle populations.

Keywords

folliclesgrowthlambssomatotropinwool
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 55 , Issue 1 , August 1992 , pp. 73 - 78
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1992

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