Experimental Fleece-Removal with Bioclip® Wool-Harvesting System for Merino-derived Wool Sheep in the US

Abstract

The objective of this trial is to evaluate the efficacy of a biological wool-harvesting system, Bioclip®, as an alternative to the mechanical shearing of wool sheep. Twenty-six 10-month-old ewes were selected for a Bioclip® shearing comparison experiment. Ewes were weighed and stratified by body weight and breed, and then, divided into a control (conventional shearing, n = 10) and Bioclip® treatment group (n = 16). Treatment group animals were each given a 2.5 ml Bioclip® injection formula (7.5 mg/ml epidermal growth factor or EGF) subcutaneously on the inguinal bare skin area, after which a fleece retention net was placed on each animal. Sheep were fed alfalfa hay for 1 week prior to the Bioclip® injection, and 4 weeks postinjection under a semi-sheltered pen, until fleece removal at the 28th day, with wool regrowth monitoring at 5 weeks postharvest. Posttreatment wool regrowth monitoring was conducted and compared for the control and Bioclip® groups at 5 weeks post wool harvesting. There was no difference in the posttreatment body weight, fleece weight, weight gain, fiber diameter, and wool regrowth rate between the control and Bioclip® treatment group. Whereas, fleece staple length and regrowth fiber length measured significantly (P < 0.01) longer for Bioclip®harvested wool than conventionally shorn sheep. This was the first time Bioclip® was used experimentally on US wool sheep and resulted in a simultaneous and complete shedding of fleeces. The results suggest that Bioclip® can improve wool clip quality and animal welfare as well as reduce farm labor intensity. 