SOME OBJECTIVE SKIN AND FLEECE TRAITS RELATING TO PELT QUALITY OF SWEDISH PELTSHEEP

Pelt samples were taken from eight positions on 32 Swedish Lamb pelts, together with skin samples from eight positions on 20 Swedish Peltshe ep lambs at birth and again from ten of these lambs at subsequent slau ghter. These samples were examined for a range of histological and met rological characters. Based on this limited sample material, the histo logical measurements suggest that Swedish Lamb pelts may be characteri sed by an S/P ratio (ratio of secondary to primary follicles) of about 11, follicle density of 14-19/mm2 and average fibre diameter of 30.6- 33.5 mum. About 80% of primary fibres and 15-20% of secondary fibres w ere pigmented. Medullation levels were low. Processing of the pelts ap peared to modify the skin area, resulting in follicles making a much m ore acute angle with the pelt surface than in fresh skin. This work ex tends the available histological and fleece measurement information on Swedish Lamb skin and pelts, and will assist in designing future work on possible objective selection criteria.