ABSTRACT
Stocking rate with sheep on the "|espinal"| of the Mediterranean subhumid zone of Chile. V. Wool fibre diameter and fibre lenght, live and fleece weights variations

Julia Avendaño R.1, Guillermo García D.2, Bernardita Parra B.3 y Carlos Ovalle M.4
 

This study is part of a stocking rate experiment started in 1975. The treatments were seven stocking rates: 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0 ewes/ha. Fibre diameter (F.O.), fibre lenght (F.L.), fleece weight (F.W.) and liveweight (L.W.) variations were analysed. Stocking rate increase affected adversely F.O., F.W. and L.W.; by contrast, F.L. did not show a clear relation with stocking rate increase. Through F.O. and L.W. seasonal variations and their relation with stocking rate, the beginning of winter and spring periods were identified as the most critical for pregnant and lactating ewes. The interannual variation of climatic conditions influenced the magnitude of the stocking rate effect on the productive characteristics.

Keywords:
1 Subestación Experimental Cauquenes (INIA), Casilla 165, Cauqueries, Chile.
2 Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales, Universidad de Chile, Casilla 1004, Santiago, Chile.
3 Egresada de Agronomía. Echeñique 7227, La Reina, Chile.
4 Estación Experimental Quilamapu (INIA), Casilla 426, ChilIán, Chile.