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The Influence of Absorbed Nutrients on Wool Growth

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The Biology of Wool and Hair

Summary

Wool growth can vary over a four-fold range due to changes in nutrient supply. The major nutritional limitation to wool growth is the amount and composition of amino acids available to wool follicles. ‘Maximum’ rates of wool growth can be attained on maintenance intakes of energy with about 150 g of ideal protein available for intestinal digestion. A mixture of essential amino acids given via the abomasum is as effective as protein for enhancing wool growth. The sulphur-containing amino acids (cyst(e)ine and methionine) and lysine are particularly important for wool growth.

Because wool proteins are rich in cystine, an adequate supply of cyst(e)ine is needed by the wool follicles to sustain wool growth. An important function of methionine is the provision of cysteine via the transulphuration pathway; it can also be catabolized via the transamination pathway. At levels of methionine normally absorbed by sheep, it is concluded that about three-quarters of the methionine-S is converted to cysteine-S. Experiments with mixtures of amino acids given via the abomasum, and with analogues of methionine (ethionine and methoxinine), have indicated a specific role for methionine in the control of wool growth, most probably as a methyl donor or a precursor for polyamines via S-adenosylmethionine. Evidence is presented that interference with synthesis of pofyamines can influence wool growth.

Many vitamins and trace elements are necessary for the process of wool growth. Two vitamins, folic acid and pyridoxine, may be especially important because of their involvement in the metabolism of methionine and pofyamines. Copper and zinc function directly in the process of wool growth; copper is involved in keratinization with zinc being specifically required by rapidly proliferating tissues.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Animal Production, Ian Clunies Ross Animal Research Laboratory, C.S.I.R.O., P.O. Box 239, Blacktown, N.S.W., 2148, Australia

    P. J. Reis

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  1. P. J. Reis
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, University of Adelaide, Australia

    G. E. Rogers

  2. Division of Animal Production, CSIRO, Australia

    P. J. Reis  & K. A. Ward  & 

  3. Division of Protein Chemistry, CSIRO, Australia

    R. C. Marshall

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© 1988 Chapman & Hall, London & New York

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Reis, P.J. (1988). The Influence of Absorbed Nutrients on Wool Growth. In: Rogers, G.E., Reis, P.J., Ward, K.A., Marshall, R.C. (eds) The Biology of Wool and Hair. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-9702-1_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-9702-1_13

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-011-9704-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-9702-1

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