Rowell J E, Lupton C J, Robertson M A, Pfeiffer F A, Nagy J A, White R G
Large Animal Research Station, Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 99775-7000, USA.
J Anim Sci. 2001 Jul;79(7):1670-4. doi: 10.2527/2001.7971670x.
In response to increasing commercial interest and the high market value of qiviut (the downy underwool of the muskox), we have employed standards and measurements used in the wool and cashmere industries to describe qiviut fiber characteristics. Fleece samples (qiviut with guard hair) were shaved from the midshoulder of 299 wild muskox hides of known sex and age (1, 2, 3, and 4+ yr) during the Banks Island, Canada, muskox harvest in November 1997. Samples were analyzed for fiber diameter distribution of raw fiber and qiviut, scoured and qiviut yields, and lengths of guard hair and qiviut fiber. We found a sex x age interaction for average fiber diameter (AFD) in raw fiber (P= 0.002) and qiviut (P < 0.001) only. Adult males had significantly coarser AFD than females (21.5 microm, males vs 20.1 microm, females and 18.2 microm, males vs 17.5 microm, females) for raw fiber and qiviut, respectively. Qiviut AFD from yearlings was 1.7 microm finer than the AFD of adult qiviut. Fiber diameter distribution (SD) decreased with age in the raw sample (P < 0.003) and qiviut (P < 0.001) and qiviut SD was greater (P < 0.001) in males than in females. Qiviut theoretical yield (% mass of fibers < or = 30 microm) increased (P < 0.001) with age, and females had higher theoretical yields than males (P < 0.001). Scoured yield did not vary between sexes in any age class and averaged 93.3%. Qiviut staple length did not differ with either age or sex. In summary, differences between the sexes were small up to the 3rd yr, and these differences were not likely to be of commercial importance. However, considering that AFD is a primary commercial criterion of value, AFD changes from 16.5 microm in yearlings to 18.2 microm in adults and from 17.5 microm in adult females to 18.2 microm in adult males would be expected to result in significant differences in commercial value.
鉴于市场对魁北克羊毛（麝牛的细软绒毛）的商业兴趣日益浓厚且其市场价值高昂，我们采用了羊毛和羊绒行业使用的标准及测量方法来描述魁北克羊毛纤维的特性。1997年11月在加拿大班克斯岛进行麝牛捕猎期间，从299张已知性别和年龄（1岁、2岁、3岁和4岁以上）的野生麝牛兽皮的中肩部剃取了带粗毛的羊毛样本。对样本进行了原纤维和魁北克羊毛的纤维直径分布、洗净率和魁北克羊毛产量以及粗毛和魁北克羊毛纤维长度的分析。我们发现，仅在原纤维（P = 0.002）和魁北克羊毛（P < 0.001）的平均纤维直径（AFD）方面存在性别×年龄的交互作用。成年雄性原纤维和魁北克羊毛的AFD显著粗于雌性（原纤维分别为21.5微米对20.1微米，魁北克羊毛分别为18.2微米对17.5微米）。一岁龄麝牛的魁北克羊毛AFD比成年魁北克羊毛细1.7微米。原样本和魁北克羊毛的纤维直径分布（标准差）均随年龄增长而降低（原样本P < 0.003，魁北克羊毛P < 0.001），且雄性的魁北克羊毛标准差大于雌性（P < 0.001）。魁北克羊毛的理论产量（纤维质量≤30微米的百分比）随年龄增长而增加（P < 0.001），且雌性的理论产量高于雄性（P < 0.001）。洗净率在任何年龄组的性别之间均无差异，平均为93.3%。魁北克羊毛的毛丛长度在年龄和性别方面均无差异。总之，在3岁之前性别差异较小，这些差异可能在商业上并不重要。然而，鉴于AFD是价值的主要商业标准，一岁龄麝牛的AFD从16.5微米变为成年麝牛的18.2微米，成年雌性从17.5微米变为成年雄性的18.2微米，预计这将导致商业价值的显著差异。
