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SAURASHTRA WOOLS—THEIR PHYSICAL CHARACTERS [Vol. XXIV, Part III,
2. Keeping in view the suggestion made by Mahal [1949] that an ideal carpet
wool should not have more than 80 per cent of non-medullated fibres by cross-
section method, it will be seen from the analysis that none of the samples exceed
this limit except sample numbers 2 and 5. All the samples show about 60 per
cent or more of the non-medullated fibres by projection test which shows that the
samples on the whole are quite good for carpet manufacture.
3. Though the wool, on the whole, in a mixed form, is best suited for the
manufacture of carpets, very low percentage of medullation in sample numbers 2 and
5 shows that suitable sorts can be picked up for the utilisation of clothing material.
Great potentialities for improvement of sheep types, towards the production of
clothing wool, are also apparent from the wide range of variation in the medullated
fibres in the different samples. However, it does not seem likely that quick improve-
ment can be effected only through selective breeding of indigenous types alone. It
seems that cross breeding with selected animals of Pattanwadi or Bikaneri breeds
of sheep may effect a speedier improvement.
4. Elimination of kemp is quite possible and can be accomplished through
selective breeding. This is evident from the fact that only one sample has shown
the presence of kemp.
5. Although, range of variation in the mean fibre thickness of composite samples
is not wide, the coefficient of variation in the fibre thickness in the different samples
is large. This shows that maximum emphasis is needed towards the improvement
of uniformity of fibre thickness. The thickness mesurements of true wool fibres
show a great uniformity of fibres but the hair fibres are highly variable. This
indicates that the elimination of hair fibres is of paramount importance and can be
accomplished through a regular programme of selective breeding over a period of
few years. Analysis results also reveal that the quality of wool as judged by the
fibre thickness of composite samples is fairly uniform all over the State and topo-
graphical differences do not seem to have any effect on the quality of wool so far as the
fibre thickness is concerned.
6. The stretched fibre length of different types of fibres in individual samples
does not show any marked elongation of the outer coat as is seen in most of the carpet
type wools. This character is highly desirable for improving the spinning value of
carpet wools. Although individual samples do not show much variation in the length
of the fibre types, variation between different samples is wide and those with shorter
length require immediate attention. Uniformity in length can be attained amongst
Saurashtra wools by following a regular shearing practice and formulating a well
planned breeding policy.
7. The analysis also reveals that there is a definite effect of climate on the
amount of medullation in wool. The samples coming from low rainfall area show
a lesser amount of medullation and the degree of medullation increases more or
less in proportion to the increase of rainfall.
8. For a mass improvement of wool in the whole State, stud farms may be
established in different areas for the continuous supply of improved rams of known
pedigree to the breeders to grade up the local flocks.