Browsing by Subject "kainuunharmas"

The Finnsheep and the Finnish Grey Landrace have recently been identified as two different breeds of sheep (Ovis aries). As this was achieved by genetical analyses and as many important characteristics of the wool are heritable it is possible that there are differences within the wool qualities of the Finnsheep and the Finnish Grey Landrace. The aim of this study was to find out if the Finnsheep wool fibres and the Finnish Grey Landrace wool fibres can be identified by breed when compared using stereomicroscopy techniques, and if the Finnsheep wool fibres and the Finnish Grey Landrace wool fibres have structural differences that might affect their usage as textile material. Wool fibres of two white and two brown Finnsheep ewes and two pale grey and two black Finnish Grey Landrace ewes were examined by microscopic methods. The longitudinal structures, cross sections and scale casts of fibres were examined. The scale patterns of the cuticula, the shape and structure of the medulla and the cross sections were examined by qualitative methods as well as the shape of the edges of the scales. The diameter of the fibres, the height and the rate of the scales were measured by using Motic Images Plus 2.0 ML software. The examined traits were compared between individuals, colours and breeds. No such trait was found that would have been characteristic for only one breed as there were no differences between the breeds. Most of the traits were similar between two colours instead of breeds. The results suggest that the wool fibres of the Finnsheep and the Finnish Grey Landrace can be used together as textile material. According to the results the wool fibres can’t be used to tell the two breeds apart. For future research, it might be more relevant to compare wool fibres between colours than breeds.