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Browsing by Author "Stewart, Whitney C."

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Comparison of new composite breeds with the Suffolk breed as terminal sires in an extensive production system: carcass characteristics
    McKibben, Heather N.; Notter, David R.; Stewart, Whitney C.; Means, Warrie J.; Pierce, Natalie L.; Taylor, J. Bret (2019-12)
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    Comparison of the USSES terminal-sire and Siremax composite breeds with the Suffolk breed as terminal sires in an extensive production system: carcass characteristics
    McKibben, Heather N.; Notter, David R.; Stewart, Whitney C.; Means, Warrie J.; Pierce, Natalie L.; Taylor, J. Bret (2018-09)
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    Evaluation of Rambouillet, Polypay, and Romanov-White Dorper x Rambouillet ewes mated to terminal sires in an extensive rangeland production system: bode weight and wool characteristics
    Murphy, Thomas W.; Stewart, Whitney C.; Notter, David R.; Mousel, Michelle R.; Lewis, Gregory S.; Taylor, J. Bret (2019-04)
    Though lamb sales account for the majority of annual receipts on U.S. sheep operations, wool is an important income source for many Western flocks. Crossing fine-wool sheep with prolific or composite hair sheep breeds can increase lamb production, but fleece quality and marketability may be reduced by a greater content of nonwool fibers (e.g., med and kemp). The objectives of this study were to compare BW and wool characteristics of Rambouillet, Polypay, and Romanov-White Dorper x Rambouillet (RW-RA) ewes under extensive rangeland management conditions. Ewe BW was collected before mating (fall) and 30 d postlambing (spring) each year from 1 yr up to 4 yr of age. In spring and fall, Rambouillet and Polypay ewes were similar in BW (P >= 0.94). Spring BW did not differ (P = 0.13) between RW-RA and Polypay, but Rambouillet ewes were heavier than RW-RA in the spring (P = 0.02). Both Rambouillet and Polypay ewes were heavier Rambouillet, intermediate in Polypay, and greatest in RW-RA (P < 0.01). Wool from RW-RA ewes had greater %M, %K, and %T (P < 0.001) than wool from Rambouillet and Polypay ewes, which were not different (P > 0.99). Results indicated superior wool production for Rambouillet compared (P < 0.07) than RW-RA in the fall. Greasy fleece weight and mid-side wool samples were collected from ewes at 1 and 4 yr of age. Clean fleece weights (CFW) were estimated from average laboratory scoured yield of mid-side wool samples composited within-breed. Average fiber diameter (AFD), SD of fiber diameter (SD-FD), and percentage med (%M), kemp (%K), and total medullated fibers (%T) were quantified on individual mid-side wool samples. There was no difference in 1-yr-old CFW among breed types (P >= 0.96). Four-yr-old Rambouillet ewes had heavier CFW (2.29 kg; P < 0.001) than 4-yr-old Polypay (1.83 kg) and RW-RA ewes (1.86 kg), which were not different (P > 0.99). Within 1- and 4-yr-olds, AFD differed among breed type (P < 0.001) and was the finest for Rambouillet (20.1 and 21.9 mu m, respectively), intermediate for RW-RA (22.8 and 24.8 mu m), and coarsest for Polypay (24.2 and 26.7 mu m). Also within 1-and 4-yr olds, SD-FD was lowest in with the coarser, more variable wool produced by Polypay and RW-RA. Still, past research reported greater lamb production in Polypay and RW-RA ewes which, under recent market conditions, would be associated with greater annual gross revenue for these breed types than for Rambouillet.
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    Fleece and fiber characteristics of Rambouillet, Targhee, and their reciprocal-crosses at first shearing
    Murphy, Thomas W.; Stewart, Whitney C.; Notter, David R.; Knuth, Ryan M.; Feagler, Trestin T.; Taylor, J. Bret (2020-12)