Sheep may soon be shearing themselves, thanks to a new technique developed
by Australian scientists. The system, known as ‘biological wool harvesting’,
uses a natural protein which temporarily interrupts the growth of hair.
After a single injection of the protein, the sheep ‘shed’ on cue. However,
the protein can produce abortions in pregnant ewes.
At present, removing the fleece from sheep accounts for 23 per cent
of the direct costs to wool growers in Australia. Because of this expense,
and the scarcity of skilled shearers, a search has been under way for a
quicker, cheaper alternative.
Bill Panaretto and his colleagues of the CSIRO Division of Animal Production
in Sydney have developed biological wool harvesting. They say the technique
will increase the number of fleeces that a shearer and an assistant can
‘harvest’ in a day from roughly 120 to 300.
Panaretto also claims that because the animal is shorn evenly in one
go, the wool is of finer quality. ‘Second-cuts’ to remove stubble, are not
necessary, he says.
The protein used in the new technique is an epidermal growth factor
(EGF) found most commonly in the salivary glands of male mice. Panaretto
and his colleagues have synthesised an effective recombinant version that
will stop wool growing for 24 hours. The researchers do not know precisely
how the protein works. But, according to Kevin Ward, a genetic engineer
at CSIRO, it is known that within the hair follicle EGF stops the production
of cells that are destined to become a wool fibre.
Read more: https://www.newscientist.com/articl...ll-the-wool-over-a-sheeps-eyes/#ixzz6eCinqCAH
www.newscientist.com
by Australian scientists. The system, known as ‘biological wool harvesting’,
uses a natural protein which temporarily interrupts the growth of hair.
After a single injection of the protein, the sheep ‘shed’ on cue. However,
the protein can produce abortions in pregnant ewes.
At present, removing the fleece from sheep accounts for 23 per cent
of the direct costs to wool growers in Australia. Because of this expense,
and the scarcity of skilled shearers, a search has been under way for a
quicker, cheaper alternative.
Bill Panaretto and his colleagues of the CSIRO Division of Animal Production
in Sydney have developed biological wool harvesting. They say the technique
will increase the number of fleeces that a shearer and an assistant can
‘harvest’ in a day from roughly 120 to 300.
Panaretto also claims that because the animal is shorn evenly in one
go, the wool is of finer quality. ‘Second-cuts’ to remove stubble, are not
necessary, he says.
The protein used in the new technique is an epidermal growth factor
(EGF) found most commonly in the salivary glands of male mice. Panaretto
and his colleagues have synthesised an effective recombinant version that
will stop wool growing for 24 hours. The researchers do not know precisely
how the protein works. But, according to Kevin Ward, a genetic engineer
at CSIRO, it is known that within the hair follicle EGF stops the production
of cells that are destined to become a wool fibre.
Read more: https://www.newscientist.com/articl...ll-the-wool-over-a-sheeps-eyes/#ixzz6eCinqCAH
Science: How a protein can pull the wool over a sheep's eyes
Sheep may soon be shearing themselves, thanks to a new technique developed by Australian scientists. The system, known as 'biological wool harvesting', uses a natural protein which temporarily interrupts the growth of hair. After a single injection of the protein, the sheep 'shed' on cue...
