Summer-autumn rainfall effects on wool staple strength and position of break. II. Rainfall simulations, with or without wind, on sheep on days of different ambient temperatures

Previous small-scale field work failed to show any influence on staple stre ngth from various different rainfall simulations, other than those where sh eep grazed germinating green pasture following rainfall. The present study was designed to incorporate variables such as ambient temperature and the i nfluence of wind into rainfall simulations onto Merino sheep. Different treatments did not show any effect on staple strength despite she ep being subjected to simulated rainfall events on warm and cool days, with or without additional wind. This lack of effect on wool quality was despit e significant treatment effects on sheep rectal and skin temperatures.