19 citations
,
June 2020 in “Animals” This study found that maternal sub-maintenance nutrition reduced the density and branching ratio of secondary wool follicles in Merino sheep fetuses and identified genes potentially involved in these processes.
7 citations
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April 2013 in “Animal Production Science” This study found that manipulating maternal cortisol levels during pregnancy altered Merino sheep wool characteristics, increasing fibre length and reducing crimp frequency in the offspring.
17 citations
,
October 1997 in “Australian Journal of Agricultural Research” This study observed that nutritional stress is likely responsible for changes in Merino sheep follicle morphology in Mediterranean environments, affecting staple strength and possibly requiring targeted management strategies.
2 citations
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February 2025 in “PLoS ONE” This study used TMT-based quantitative proteomics to analyze the development of secondary hair follicles in fetal sheep, revealing increased follicle density and key proteins involved, such as COL1A1 and THBS4, indicating their potential role in wool quality traits.
17 citations
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October 2017 in “Scientific reports” This study found that Super Merino sheep have a higher wool follicle density, finer fleece, and distinct gene expression compared to Small Tail Han sheep, which may inform future breeding and genetic interventions.