Consists only of coarse guard hairs. Animal fur

Before discussing hair removal methods, it is necessary to agree on terminology and understand what generally affects hair growth and what their structure is.

So, hair grows from the most extensive human organ - the skin, and is part of the body's defense system: it retains heat (where it grows densely: for example, on the head), absorbs shocks (on the head), prevents sweat from entering the eyes (eyebrows and eyelashes ), dust - into the lungs (in the nose), etc. Our hair is no different from the hair of the same chimpanzee, and even the number of follicles we have is the same.

Human genetics determines the number of hair follicles, the hair growth program and their sensitivity to hormones. The task of epilation is to exhaust the supply of follicles in a given area. This action, regardless of hormonal characteristics, will lead to the cessation of hair growth.

By type, hair is divided into three types:

• Lanugo(embryonic hair) - fluffy long hair covering the body of the fetus before it is born. Some of this hair falls out in the womb, some - a few months after birth.
• Cannon hair - soft, thin (0.1 mm) and short (up to 20 mm) hair covering almost the entire body. They have shallow roots, often devoid of pigment. When stimulated, such hair can transform into terminal hair.
• Terminal hair - hard, thick (up to 0.6 mm), long (over 20 mm) and pigmented hair that develops from roots in the deep layers of the skin. Such hair includes hair on the head, pubis and armpits.
• Eyelash or bristly hair- coarse, pigmented, but very short hair growing on the eyelids, on the eyebrows, in the nose and ears. They perform a barrier function.

Hair in different nations and in different areas can have a different structure - be straight or curled - and grow at different angles. The position of the hair follicle in the dermis is affected by a history of hair removal and skin diseases. Waxing, sugaring, folliculitis (or pseudofolliculitis due to ingrown hairs) can deform the follicles, which then produce hair that is difficult for long-term types of hair removal.

Rod structure

The structure of the hair on the surface of the skin is formed from 2-3 layers of keratinized cells. Hair color is determined by the melanin pigment produced by melanocytes located in the basal layer of the epidermis. Therefore, vellus hair growing at the very surface of the skin is often devoid of pigment.

The hair consists of a scaly cuticle, a cortex (cortex) and a porous core (medulla or medulla). Cuticle consists of keratinized keratinosites - fats, proteins and wax-like substances that provide elasticity and strength to the hair. Cortext It is built from epidermal stem cells and contains melanin and keratin. Core not contained in all hair, but only in long and thick (on the head, pubis, etc.); its purpose is not entirely clear: according to one version, voids in the core protect the scalp from temperature changes.

Since the rod is a keratinized tissue, no impact on it can affect the further growth of the hair. Shaving and cutting, just like nourishing masks are not able to qualitatively affect already regrown (and damaged) hair shafts, their task is to temporarily glue the scales together.

hair follicle

Each hair develops from hair follicle- This is a special bag in which the hair root is located. Together with its associated systems, it forms hair follicle. These systems include the sebaceous and sweat glands, the levator pilus muscle, blood vessels, and nerve endings.

Each hair is connected to muscle, capable of lifting it, forming "goosebumps" - this involuntary movement helps to retain heat. The hair follicle forms hair follicle, to which nutrients and oxygen enter with the blood, and waste products of cellular metabolism are excreted through the lymph. The division of epidermal cells and melanocytes in the hair follicle, followed by their keratinization, ensures the growth of the hair shaft.

A hair is alive as long as it is made up of blood vessels and nourishes the hair. hair papilla. All types of hair removal are aimed at destroying the hair papilla due to thermal (electroepilation, laser hair removal) or chemical burns (electroepilation, enzymatic hair removal, etc.). There are versions that the hair papilla is able to recover due to stem cells, the reservoir of which is the "niche" of the follicle, located just below the sebaceous gland.

Hair growth and vital activity is controlled by means of hormones produced by the endocrine glands. The necessary hormones come with the blood to the hair follicle, where they interact with special target cells, the task of which is to recognize the instructions sent to them. For example, hair target cells are sensitive to the action of dihydrotestosterone, the most powerful androgen formed from free testosterone under the influence of the 5α-reductase enzyme in the skin. The higher the level of free testosterone and the more active the enzyme 5α-reductase, the thicker and darker the hair on the body grows and the more hair falls out on the head. In women, an increase in the concentration of unbound testosterone leads to hirsutism: the degeneration of fine vellus hair into terminal hair in those areas where hair normally grows only in men. This is partly due to the fact that androgens lengthen the phase of active hair growth. The rapid growth of the hormone progesterone also lengthens the growth phase and accelerates the division of hair follicle cells; thanks to this, hair grows better, falls out less everywhere - both on the head and on the body.

Life cycle of hair

Sources:(Mostly) Morris, D. Encyclopedia of hair removal: everything about hair removal for professionals and beauty salons / D. Morris, D. Brown. - M.: RIPOL classic, 2008. - 400, illus.

What do I do when I'm cold? Guessed!!! I dress warmly. Woolen sweater, woolen socks, downy handkerchief and hot tea with honey.

And why do knitted woolen products keep us warm in winter?
And because wool has the highest heat-shielding properties.
This magical effect occurs, thanks to the composition of the wool fiber, to bind heat and store it between the fibers.
There is no other fiber like it in nature.

Wool

Wool is animal hair that can be processed into yarn or felt.
Wool obtained from animals is named after the type of animal.
For example: goat hair, camel hair, etc.

The main mass of wool (95-97%) for the wool of processing enterprises is given by sheep.

According to the composition of the fibers, wool is homogeneous (thin, semi-fine, semi-coarse and coarse)
and heterogeneous (semi-rough and rough).

Wool uniformity is determined by fineness, crimp and length. And it is characterized by the content of fluff, transitional hair, awn and dead hair in it.

According to the fineness (thickness), wool is divided into four groups.

Thin: fine down fibers with uniform crimp - high quality.

Fine wool consists of fine fibers of fluff (from 14 to 25 microns) with a uniform fine crimp
30-80 mm long and is characterized by the properties inherent in downy fibers.
It is used to produce high quality knitwear and fabrics.

Semi-thin: coarse down or transitional hair. Or a mixture of them.
Semi-fine wool is characterized by a fineness of 25 to 34 microns and a length of 40-150 mm.
It consists of coarse down, transitional hair, or a mixture thereof;
used to make the thinnest woolen knitwear and
thin suit and dress fabrics.

semi-rough: down, transitional hair and a little thin awn - less high quality.
Semi-coarse wool has a fineness of 34 to 40 microns and a length of 50-200 mm.
It consists of fluff, transitional hair and a small amount of thin awn,
used to produce lower quality knitwear and fabrics.

rough: fluff, transitional hair, awn and dead hair - low quality.
Coarse wool is characterized by a fineness of 40 to 67 microns and a length of 10-250 mm.
It consists of fluff, transitional hair, awn and dead hair.
This is the lowest quality wool, used mainly for making
coarse fabrics.

The wool fiber consists of three layers (seen under a microscope):

Scaly (cuticle) - the outer layer, consists of separate scales, protects the body of the hair from destruction. The degree of luster of the fiber and its ability to felt (roll, fall off) depend on the type of scales and their location.

The scaly layer of the fiber consists of the thinnest horn-shaped plates (scales) that form the outer cover of the fiber.

The scaly layer is characterized by high mechanical strength and chemical resistance, protects the inner layers of the fiber from atmospheric and mechanical influences. It imparts a number of valuable properties to wool fibers. So, the scales increase the tenacity of the fibers, resulting in a more durable yarn.

The felting of the wool fiber is also determined by the presence of a scaly layer.
There is a significant amount of air between the scales, so wool fibers are less thermally conductive.
The size, shape and nature of the relative position of the scales depend on the type of wool (fine and coarse) and affect many of the technological and operational properties of the fiber.

Cortical - the main layer, forms the body of the hair, determines its quality.

The cortical layer is located directly under the scaly, forms the main body and determines the main properties of the fiber. The cells of the cortical layer have numerous boundaries, which corresponds to the idea of ​​a cell as a three-dimensional polyhedron.

Medullary - located in the center of the fiber, consists of cells filled with air.

The core layer is located in the center of the fiber and consists of cells of various shapes, between which there is air. The presence of a core layer is a sign of a coarse fiber with a reduced tensile strength. The dimensions of the core layer are not the same for different fibers and vary widely.

Depending on the ratio of individual layers, wool fibers are divided into 4 types:

fluff - very thin, soft, crimped fiber, in which the core layer is absent.

Down - the thinnest (15-30 microns), soft and durable fibers of a round shape
in cross section, with fine tortuosity, consist of two layers:
scaly and cortical. The scales of the fluff are ring-shaped, they cover the fiber around the entire circumference, find one on top of the other, creating a rough surface. Thanks to this, the fluff has a soft sheen and the best roll.

ost - thick, rigid fiber with a significant core layer.

Awn - thick (50-90 microns), almost straight coarse fibers with an irregular oval shape in cross section, consisting of three layers: scaly, cortical and core.
The scales near the awn are non-ring-shaped, most closely adhering to the cortical layer, causing a strong shine and less roll. The core layer of the spine occupies from 1/3 to 2/3 of the fiber thickness.
As a result, the awn is less durable and flexible, more rigid.

transitional hair - thicker and tougher than down. The core layer occurs in places.

Transitional hair in its structure occupies an intermediate position between down and awn.
The transitional hair, like the awn, consists of three layers, but its core layer is much narrower and discontinuous.
According to technical indicators, the transitional hair is more suitable for down than for the awn.

dead hair - the most thick, coarse, brittle and short fiber, devoid of natural color and luster. The core layer of a dead hair occupies 90-95% of its thickness.

As a result, dead hair has low strength, is quickly destroyed by friction, does not stain and does not have the ability to fall off.
Therefore, dead hair is considered a defective fiber and is removed from the wool mass.
Chemical composition: natural protein keratin.
According to the chemical composition, wool fiber refers to protein compounds containing mainly keratin, which includes residues of various amino acids.
The elemental composition of keratin is characterized by the presence of five elements: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur.

The effect of chemical reagents on fibers:

Destroyed by strong hot sulfuric acid, other acids do not work. Soluble in weak alkali solutions. When boiled, the wool dissolves already in a 2% solution of caustic soda. Under the action of dilute acids (up to 10%), the strength of wool increases slightly. Under the action of concentrated nitric acid, the wool turns yellow, under the action of concentrated sulfuric acid, it chars. Insoluble in phenol and acetone.

wool properties

Heat resistance - (the ability to save heat) is one of the most famous and beloved properties of wool.

Wool has the highest heat-shielding properties. This magical action occurs, thanks to the composition of its fibers, to bind heat and store it between the fibers. There is no other fiber like it in nature.

The highest hygroscopicity is 18-25%. Maximum 30%. It absorbs moisture from the environment, but unlike other fibers, it slowly absorbs and releases moisture, remaining dry to the touch. Swells strongly in water. Moistened fiber in the stretched state can be fixed by drying; when re-wetting, the length of the fiber is restored again. This property of wool is taken into account in the wet-heat treatment of products for sutyuzhka and bracing of their individual parts.

Good light fastness.

Good stretch.

Good elasticity - crease resistance.

Good stainability with acid dyes. Wool is relatively resistant to acids.

Color natural: white, gray, black, red.

Felting is the ability of wool to form a felt-like covering during the felling process. Thin, elastic, highly crimped wool has the greatest ability to felt. Cloth, drape, felt, felt.

Wool fibers repel dirt and are easy to clean.

Alkaline treatments are not available!!! Alkali, even in a weak solution, spoils wool.

Other properties.

Eh, not only we like wool. She is also loved by a moth butterfly. And the microbes love it too.

Do not store wool in a damp and very damp place, microbes cause mold and rotting of wool.
Too high drying temperatures and prolonged exposure to sunlight reduce the strength of the wool.

Well, excuse me. Well, I just can’t help but write about the well-known and my very favorite Orenburg goat.
When I think about the fact that this breed could disappear, immediately tears well up in my eyes.

Orenburg goat- Introduced in the 19th century as a result of the selection of the best breeds of goats in order to obtain a long, soft, thin fluff. It is associated with traditional and well-known throughout Russia and beyond its borders, folk craft - production

Fleece and its structure. A fleece is called a sheep's wool, removed during shearing in the form of a whole layer, which does not break up into separate pieces. Fleece is obtained by shearing fine-fleeced and semi-fine-fleeced sheep. During spring shearing, coarse-wooled and semi-coarse-wooled sheep also give fleece wool, and the wool of these sheep of autumn shearing breaks into pieces, since it contains little fluff and grease. Fleece wool is subjected to primary sorting (classification) directly at the farms. The fleece consists of groups of fibers called staples or braids, which are glued together with grease, which prevents them from felting. The fleece of the staple structure has fine-fleeced and short-haired semi-fine-fleeced sheep. In coarse-wooled, semi-coarse-wooled and long-haired semi-fine-fleeced sheep, the fleece consists of braids. The structure of the rune affects its safety and determines a number of physical and mechanical properties.
In wool fiber, scaly, cortical and core layers are distinguished.
scaly layer represents the outer shell of the fiber, which protects it from the destructive action of water, sun, dust, fumes, etc. Damage to it violates the strength, elasticity and other physical properties of wool. The squamous layer consists of keratinized cells. The shape of the scales determines the sheen of the coat.
Cortical layer is located under the squamosal and is a longitudinal spindle-shaped cells that make up the bulk of the fiber. The strength, elasticity and extensibility of wool depend on the cortical layer. In colored wool, the cells of this layer contain a coloring matter - a pigment. The scaly and cortical layers are present in hairs of all types.
Core (brain) layer occupies the middle part of the fiber and consists of cells loosely interconnected; cavities between cells are filled with air. This layer is present only in the awn, dead and transitional hair. The more developed this layer, the worse the technical properties of wool.
Types of wool fibers. According to their appearance and technical properties, the following main types of wool fibers are distinguished: down, awn, transitional, dead, dry, covering hair and dog.
fluff represents the thinnest, but strongest hair, consisting only of scaly and cortical layers. The cross-sectional diameter (thickness) of the fluff ranges from 15 to 25 microns, the length is 5-15 cm. It is always wavy or rather highly crimped. The fleece of fine-fleeced sheep consists entirely of down, so the wool of these sheep is considered the highest quality raw material for the worsted and knitted industries. In all coarse-haired sheep, with the exception of the Romanov breed, the down is shorter than the awn, and therefore it is usually called the undercoat.
ost- the thickest, straight or slightly crimped hair. Its thickness ranges from 35 to 200 microns, length - 10-30 cm. The guard fibers consist of scaly, cortical and core layers. The awn makes up the bulk of the coat of coarse-wooled sheep and is found in a small amount in the wool of semi-coarse-wooled sheep. In terms of technical properties, awn is much worse than down. A variety of awn is dry, covering hair, as well as a dog.
dead hair- very coarse and brittle guard hairs that do not have shine and are not able to be dyed. There is especially a lot of dead hair in the wool of fat-tailed, Mongolian and some Caucasian sheep of coarse-haired breeds (Karabakh, etc.).
dry hair- coarse awn with more rigid outer ends of the fibers. Technically, dry hair occupies an intermediate position between the awn and dead hair. Dry hair is found in the wool of most coarse-haired sheep.
transitional hair in length, thickness and appearance, it occupies an intermediate position between down and awn. These are wavy or coarsely twisted hairs 65 microns thick and 10 to 35 cm long with moderate or strong luster. The transitional hair consists of scaly, cortical, and discontinuous core layers. The fleece of semi-fine-fleeced sheep consists of transitional hair. In a small amount, transitional hair is found in coarse and semi-coarse wool.
Pesiga- outer wool fibers in the cover of fine-fleeced lambs, which are distinguished by their great length, thickness and less crimp. By the age of one year, the dog usually falls out and is replaced by ordinary hair (down).
Depending on the composition of the fibers, sheep wool is divided into homogeneous and heterogeneous (mixed). Homogeneous wool (fine and semi-fine) consists of fibers of the same thickness, length, crimp and other external features. Heterogeneous wool is a mixture of different types of fibers that are quite clearly distinguished in appearance. To heterogeneous include coarse and semi-coarse wool.
Density wool is determined by the number of wool fibers per 1 mm2 of skin. It depends on the number of rudiments of wool fibers in the skin and the growth of the latter. The density of wool is determined by the breed and individual characteristics of animals, as well as their feeding and maintenance. Fine-fleeced sheep have the thickest wool. Under production conditions, the density of wool is determined visually by the width of the skin seam on the side of the sheep, the shape and structure of the inner staple, and some other indicators. The greatest density of wool is noted on the shoulder blades, sides and thighs, on the back it is less dense, and on the belly it is the rarest. In fine-fleeced sheep, the overgrown with fleece wool of the head, belly and limbs is of great importance.
Zhiropot- the secret (fat and sweat) of the sebaceous and sweat glands located in the skin of sheep. Zhiropot is an indispensable part of the fleece, as it protects it from pollution by dust, sand, various plant impurities and from getting wet. The largest amount of fat is found in the fleece of fine-fleeced sheep, the minimum - in the fleece of coarse-wooled sheep.
In the practice of fine-fleeced and semi-fine-fleeced sheep breeding, the quality of lard is assessed primarily by color. White and light cream grease are considered the best; dark cream grease is less desirable, as it gives the coat a yellowish tint (remains after washing it); highly undesirable dark fat-yellow, orange, rusty.
Zhiropot serves as a valuable technical raw material. It is used in the manufacture of soap used to wash wool, lanolin, etc.
In addition to grease, wool contains various impurities - dust, feed residues and bedding.
The mass of wool after shearing in its natural state, that is, with all impurities, including grease, is called physical mass (mass in the original). After washing and weighing, a mass of washed (clean) wool, or a mass of pure fiber, is obtained. The percentage of pure wool to the physical mass is called the yield of clean (washed) wool. In fine-fleeced breeds of sheep, the yield of pure wool averages 30-50%, in semi-fine-fleeced breeds - 50-60, in coarse-wooled ones - 55-85%. The output of pure wool is of great importance, since the acceptance and payment of wool is carried out on the basis of pure fiber.
The main physical and technical indicators of wool quality. The main physical and technical properties of wool include length, fineness, evenness, crimp, strength, elasticity, extensibility, elasticity, luster and color. These properties are evaluated during the assessment of animals, during the delivery and acceptance of wool by procurement organizations, and when sorting it in factories.
Length- one of the main indicators of wool. Distinguish natural and true length. The natural length of wool is measured directly on animals without straightening the crimps in staples or braids with an accuracy of 5 mm. To establish the true length, the fiber is carefully straightened without stretching and measured with a ruler to the nearest 1 mm. This is usually done before a haircut. The length of the coat depends on the duration of its growth, breed, sex, age, feeding conditions and the individual characteristics of the animals. The shortest wool is in fine-fleeced sheep (on average 5-9 cm), the longest is in semi-fine-fleeced long-haired sheep (30-40 cm). On the shoulder blades, sides and thighs, the hair is longer, on the belly - shorter.
Tonina wool is an important indicator of its technological properties. The fineness of wool is judged by the diameter of the cross section of the fiber. Yarn thickness, output and product quality depend on this indicator. The true fineness of wool is determined in laboratories using microscopes equipped with eyepiece micrometers and object micrometers, or projection microscopes (lanomers).
Under production conditions, when grading fine-wool and semi-fine-fleeced sheep, classifying and sorting wool, its fineness is determined by eye, using samples (standards) of wool, the thickness of which is accurately determined under a microscope. At present, in our country, a unified classification system has been developed to establish the fineness of all homogeneous wool (fine and semi-fine). According to this system, 13 main classes of uniform wool are established, which are called qualities and are indicated by numbers: 80, 70, 64, 60, 58, 56, etc.
The finer the wool, the longer the yarn can be spun from the same mass. This is the basis of the Bradford classification system for the spinning properties of wool, which is understood as the number of skeins of worsted wool of standard length (about 512 m), which is obtained from one English pound (454 g) of washed wool according to the English spinning method. In the future, with the development of wool spinning technology, these indicators changed, and the symbolic designation system has survived to this day. The Russian classification of wool thickness differs from the Bradford one in that, for each quality, the dimensions of the average fiber diameter in micrometers are set.
Under evenness understand the uniformity of wool in terms of fineness and length of the fiber in the staple and the whole fleece. It is determined only in sheep of fine-fleeced and semi-fine-fleeced breeds. There can be no absolute evenness of the fleece, since the wool is not the same on different parts of the body of a sheep due to the different thickness and density of the skin. The coarsest hair is on the back, the thinnest is on the belly. The length and thickness of the wool is determined on the sides, since here it is most equalized. Under production conditions, the uniformity of wool in terms of fineness is determined by comparing the thickness on the sides and thighs. If the difference in its thickness does not exceed one quality, the wool is considered equalized, with a difference of 2-3 qualities - unbalanced.
tortuosity called the property of wool to form curls. All wool fibers have crimp, with the exception of the covering hair and a very coarse awn. The thinner the wool fiber, the more crimped it is. Therefore, by the number of curls, one can judge the fineness (thickness) of the wool. Downy fibers are characterized by the greatest crimp, with 6 to 13 curls per 1 cm of their length.
In fine and semi-fine wool, the following curls are distinguished: normal, smooth, stretched, flat, high compressed and looped. The crimp of coarse wool is called waviness. The forms of curls are inherited, so animals with a strong (compressed, looped, etc.) crimp are discarded.
Under strength (strength) understand the ability of the wool fiber to resist tearing when pulled. The strength of the wool determines the stability of the fibers during primary processing, spinning, as well as the duration of the use of woolen products. In laboratory conditions, wool strength is determined by dynamometers.
Absolute strength is characterized by the magnitude of the load that breaks the fiber. It is expressed in newtons (N).
Relative strength is characterized by the magnitude of the breaking force per unit area of ​​the cross-section of the fiber, expressed in pascals (Pa) or megapascals (MPa). Under production conditions, the fortress is determined organoleptically by testing it with hands for rupture, that is, “for a click”.
Hygroscopicity, or humidity, wool - the ability to absorb and give moisture, depending on the humidity of the surrounding air. Moisture content is expressed as a percentage. It characterizes the ratio of absolutely dry weight of wool to its natural weight. Humidity of wool fluctuates in very wide limits - from 10 to 30-55%. In our country, for washed wool of all types, the humidity rate is 17%. For dirty wool, the humidity rate is not set.
Contaminated and clogged wool adversely affect the performance of wool processing enterprises. Regardless of the direction of sheep breeding, all farms and farms must produce only high quality wool with appropriate physical, chemical and technological properties, since all wool is ultimately used for processing. The production of such wool increases the profitability of the industry and ensures the production of high-quality products.
Factors affecting the quality of wool. To reduce the number of defects in the wool, it is important to prevent crowding of sheep, dampness and dirt in the barns. Many defects are the result of improper shearing of sheep. For example, wool-cutting (re-shearing) is obtained by repeatedly passing the machine through the sheared place. Wool-skin is also referred to as defective, that is, wool with pieces of skin cut off during shearing, which, when dried, become hard and do not separate from the wool during its factory processing.
The weakening of the strength of wool occurs as a result of inadequate feeding of sheep during their pregnancy, lactation and various diseases (mastitis, fascioliasis, poisoning, scabies). With inadequate feeding, the growth of wool in length gradually slows down, the fibers become very thin and lose their natural extensibility and strength, the “hungry fineness” defect appears. In this case, the wool is easily torn. In acute diseases, a ledge, or peresled (their sharp thinning) is formed on the hairs. There are times when the fleece completely falls off the sheep (pathological molting). In order not to spoil the fleece, oil paints or tar should not be used for marking. For these purposes, Dutch soot diluted with kerosene, or paints prepared with lanolin, are used. Marks are applied with paints on the ears, the back of the head, the root of the tail.
To avoid the appearance of burnt or rotten wool, wet sheep should not be sheared and wool with high humidity should not be packed. Weed and burdock wool is especially common. Weed wool is obtained mainly as a result of clogging it with non-spiny vegetable impurities. To prevent clogging of wool with roughage, it is desirable to lay them in a manger in the absence of sheep. When grazing, sheep should not be allowed near haystacks. Burdock wool is formed as a result of clogging with prickly plant impurities - burdock, file, feather grass (tyrsa).
One of the primary and fundamental measures in the fight against this defect is the implementation of agrotechnical methods to combat weeds in pastures, hayfields and roads.
Preventive and therapeutic bathing of sheep with the use of creolin hexachlorane concentrate plays an important role in improving the quality of wool. Preventive buying is carried out after shearing sheep.
Sheep shearing and wool grading. Shearing, adult sheep of fine-fleeced and semi-fine-fleeced breeds is usually carried out once a year - in the spring. This is due, on the one hand, to their lack of seasonal molting, on the other hand, to the fact that more frequent shearing does not allow the wool of the required length to be removed from the sheep. Young growth of spring lamb is sheared in the spring of the following year, and winter lamb (January-March) can be sheared in the year of birth, but no later than August with a coat length of at least 5-6 cm.
Sheep of coarse-wooled and semi-coarse-wooled breeds are in most cases sheared in spring and autumn, with the exception of Romanov sheep, which are sheared 3-4 times during the year. Young growth of coarse-haired and semi-coarse-haired breeds is sheared for the first time at 4-5 months of age in the fall in the year of his birth.
Sheep shearing must be strictly planned and carried out in the most favorable and shortest possible time (15-20 days). Usually sheep shearing in farms is carried out in specially equipped rooms (shearing points). The method of high-speed shearing is used, which preserves the integrity of the fleece and almost completely excludes cases of cuts in sheep, that is, the quality of the shearing increases. Sheep are sheared not in stalls, but on the floor, without wasting time and effort on tying the legs and turning the animal. For a 7-hour working day, an experienced shearer shears 80-90 fine-fleeced sheep using the high-speed method.
For haircuts, special sets of technical equipment are used - shearing units and electric machines. The flocks are sent to shearing points in the composition in which they are assigned to the shepherd's brigade. Queens with suckling lambs are sheared on sakmans. At the time of shearing, the lambs are separated. Before shearing, sheep are kept without food for at least 12-14 hours, and more often for a day, and 10-12 hours without water.
After shearing, the sheep are examined, their hooves are cut, cuts and abrasions on the skin are lubricated with a solution of creolin or another disinfectant liquid. The sick are isolated in separate rooms, and the healthy ones are released to the bases. Sheared sheep can easily catch a cold, so for a week after shearing they are grazed near the sheepfold, where they can take shelter from the cold if necessary. In hot weather, sheared sheep should be protected from overheating and sunburn by arranging sheds for them. At this time, the sheep are under enhanced veterinary control.
Depending on the age and time of sheep shearing, natural wool is usually divided into spring, autumn and bright wool.
Spring wool is of the following varieties: fleece, lumpy and lower grades (obnozhka, dung, etc.). Depending on the general condition, normal, weed-burdock and defective wool are distinguished. All wool is subject to classification according to state standards.
Classification of wool is the distribution of whole fleece and fleece wool into classes in accordance with the requirements of standards or specifications for the length, fineness of the fibers and the condition of the wool. The classification is carried out as follows: the specialist spreads the fleece that has arrived on the classifying table with braids or staples up, gently shakes the fleece 2-3 times to remove impurities from the wool, after which it separates the lower grades of wool and proceeds to the assessment. The classer tears off pieces of wool on different parts of the fleece, determines the thickness by eye and measures the length of the fibers. For a more objective assessment of wool, special standards are used.
After classification, each fleece is wrapped with the outer side inward and weighed. In the future, uniform in classification, the fleece is pressed into bales, sheathed with burlap and marked in the prescribed manner. The fleece of sheep that are unfavorable for brucellosis or scabies is packed in double containers, and a special mark is made when marking. For the entire batch of shipped wool, a veterinary and sanitary certificate is issued.
Sheepskins and their uses. Sheepskins are dressed skins taken from sheep over the age of 5-7 months. According to the nature of the wool cover, sheepskins are divided into fur and fur coats.
Fur sheepskins. These are the most valuable sheepskins, which are obtained from sheep of fine-fleeced, semi-fine-fleeced breeds and their crosses, as well as from crossbreeds of coarse-wooled sheep with fine-fleeced and semi-fine-fleeced rams. Sometimes fur sheepskins also give semi-coarse wool sheep with a high content of down in the fleece. Fur sheepskins are used for making hats, collars and fur coats, so their finishing and coloring are of paramount importance. Sometimes sheepskins from semi-coarse-wooled and semi-fine-fleeced sheep are worn with fur inside. In this case, the core is covered with a cloth or treated accordingly.
In fur production, sheepskins are used, which have a thick and durable wool cover with a wool length of more than 0.5 cm.
Fur coats. It is obtained from sheep of all coarse-wooled and semi-coarse-wooled breeds, as well as various crossbreeds, characterized by a coat close to coarse-wooled sheep. Sheepskins are used for sewing sheepskin coats, sheepskin coats and other types of fur coats. Sheepskin coats require the strength of the mezdra, good heat-shielding qualities and lightness. Since they are worn with fur inside, the mezra is subjected to special treatment and is not covered with a cloth. The thermal properties of sheepskin coats depend on the density of the skin and the quality of the coat. The best sheepskins are given by Romanov and northern short-tailed sheep.
Fur coat sheepskins, depending on the breed, are divided into Russian, steppe and Romanov.
Russian sheepskin- it includes the skins of all coarse-wooled breeds of sheep, except for fat-tailed and karakul.
Sheepskin steppe- it includes the skins of coarse-haired breeds of fat-tailed and adult Karakul sheep. Fat-tailed sheep produce the largest and heaviest sheepskin. The strength of the skin is much lower than that of Russian sheepskin.
Sheepskin Romanov- it includes skins from adult Romanov sheep and their crosses with other coarse-wooled sheep and skins from young animals of this breed at the age of 5-7 months (poyarkovye). Sheepskins have the highest technological properties, they are distinguished by light, thin, but durable leather, a beautiful gray-blue shade of non-felting wool. Unlike other types of coarse-wool sheepskins, the down fibers of the best-quality Romanov sheepskins are somewhat longer and outgrow the awn. A characteristic feature of Romanov sheepskins is the ability to form ring-shaped curls on the tops of downy braids.
As a result of the combination of black awn and white fluff, the fur of this sheepskin acquires a beautiful gray or bluish-steel color. A well-dressed sheepskin of the Romanov breed has a mass of 0.5 kg, while the mass of fat-tailed and karakul sheepskins is 6-8 kg.
Sheepskin area is determined by multiplying the length (from the upper edge of the neck to the base of the tail) by the width (along the line 3-4 cm below the front groins) or using a special stencil. Express the area of ​​sheepskins in square decimeters (dm2).
For the preservation of sheepskin skins, their timely preservation is of particular importance, as a result of which metabolic processes in the skin tissue stop, it becomes dehydrated, etc. Wet-salt, acid-salt, dry-salt and fresh-dry methods of preservation are used. Freezing or drying skins in the sun is prohibited.
Factors affecting the quality of sheepskins. The main factors affecting the quality of sheepskins are feeding, maintenance, type of constitution, season of slaughter, etc.
Sufficient and complete feeding of sheep is the basis not only for high productivity, but also for the quality of the animal's skin. With insufficient or inadequate feeding, the skin becomes thin, dry and rough; the coat loses its luster, becomes thinner along the entire length of the fibers or in separate areas, easily falls out. Defects occur even with a short underfeeding. High-quality products cannot be obtained from such skins.
In improving the quality of sheepskins, the correct maintenance of sheep plays an important role. Light and spacious rooms, dry bedding, grazing in the summer and regular exercise in winter, and where conditions allow, year-round grazing, timely cleaning of rooms and bases from manure are indispensable factors that contribute to increasing the productivity of animals and improving the condition of their skin. .
Age also has a certain effect on the quality of sheepskins. The skin of young sheep is characterized by sufficient density and uniformity in thickness. As sheep age, the skin on their back and head thickens.
An important factor affecting the quality of sheepskins is the type of constitution. Thus, sheep of a delicate type of constitution have thin and fragile skin with sparse, often vicious wool. High-quality sheepskins give sheep a dense constitution.
The quality of sheepskins also depends on the season of sheep slaughter. The best fur coats are obtained from autumn slaughter. At this time, wool has an optimal length for fur coat production.
The quality of sheepskin raw materials is also affected by the technology of its production, storage conditions and transportation.
Smushki. The skins of lambs of karakul and other astrakhan breeds, which have a hairline in the form of curls, are called astrakhans. They are obtained from lambs at the age of 1-3 days; Smushki are also given by lambs of the Sokol breed and various crossbreeds of Karakul sheep with sheep of other coarse-haired breeds. The rest of the non-mushroom lamb skins are divided into two groups: webbing skins of fine-fleeced and semi-fine-fleeced lambs and lambskins - skins of lambs of all coarse-wooled breeds, except for sheepskin.
The main properties of smushki are the shape of the curls, their size, color, hair density, skin size.
There are the following forms of curls: valek, bean, mane, ring and half ring, polka dots, corkscrew. The most valuable forms of the curl are the valek and the bob (Fig. 4.3).

Characteristics of wool fiber types and sheep wool groups

Down (strongly crimped, usually short, the thinnest - 15-30 microns, no core, in winter they protect sheep from hypothermia, in spring they fall out - molting, high quality yarn)

Transitional fiber (average between down and awn in terms of crimp and length, discontinuous core, fineness 30-52 microns, wool of semi-fine-wool sheep)

Awn (the longest, slightly twisted or straight, thickness more than 52 microns).

Dry hair (a type of awn, formed as a result of loss of fat, very fragile, less shiny, large core)

Dead hair (a kind of awn, short, very coarse, fineness 75-200 microns, brittle, white and not stained)

Pesiga (lamb hair in fine-fleeced and semi-fine-fleeced sheep, thick, slightly crimped, disappears after the first shearing)

Kemp (in adult fine-wool and semi-fine-wool sheep, coarsened, like an awn, which remains after the first shearing)

Covering hair (short 3-5 cm, straight, hard, similar in thickness and structure to the spine, grows on the legs, tail, muzzle)

Homogeneous

Fine (consists only of downy fibers, 6-9 cm, no more than 25 microns; Soviet merino, Stavropol fine-wool)

Semi-thin (from a thin transitional fiber - 9-25 cm, 25-31 microns, and coarse fluff; Kuibyshev semi-fine fleece)

Semi-coarse (from coarser transition fiber, up to 40 microns; mixtures)

Coarse (even coarser transitional hair, up to 65 microns)

Heterogeneous

Semi-coarse (down, transitional hair, a little thin awn, 31-40 microns; semi-coarse)

Coarse (down, awn, a little transitional, dead and dry fiber, 40-67 microns; Romanovskaya, Karakulskaya - coarse-haired)

Basic physical and mechanical properties of sheep wool (fineness, length, strength)

Tonina- according to the size of the cross section of the fiber (from 10 - thin fibers, up to 160 microns - coarse guard, dead hair). Wool does not contain fibers of the same fineness along the entire length (it can be homogeneous and heterogeneous). The degree of evenness is due to breed properties.

High value - wool, the fibers of which are almost the same fineness throughout the entire length (from boar, rams, replacement young animals, less equalized in queens). Seasonal changes in fineness reflect changes in feeding, maintenance, and the physiological state of the body (pregnancy, lactation). The fineness depends on gender, age (sheep's wool is coarser than that of queens, in lambs the wool becomes coarser with age, with the aging of sheep the wool becomes thinner). Fineness determines the strength (the thicker, the stronger), inversely with length. In production, when grading sheep, classifying and sorting wool, the fineness is determined organoleptically, using wool standards for this. There are 13 classes in the Bradford classification, which are called qualities and denoted by numbers: 80, 70, 64, 60, 58, 56, 50, 48, 46, 44, 40, 36 and 32. Indicates the relationship between fineness and spinning properties, indicators not in µm. In the Soviet classification, class designations are the same, but there are designations in microns for each class (64 quality - 20.6-23 microns).

Length: natural (staple height with crimp) and true (in a straightened, but not stretched state). Breed differences (for fine-wooled lambs the shortest), age (one-year-old lambs have the greatest length, up to 5-6 years the annual increase is approximately the same, after 5-6 it decreases). Haircut stimulates growth. Growth is influenced by the season of the year and the level of feeding (in winter, growth slows down even with full feeding, in the summer-autumn months, the maximum intensity of growth). On different parts of the fleece, the length of the coat is not the same (long on the shoulder blades, neck, back and sides, the shortest on the belly).

Tensile strength(wearability and duration of use of products from it): absolute (the force expended on breaking the fiber: single in gram-force, bundle - in kilogram-force, according to the SI system in newtons, 1 kgf \u003d 9.8 N) and specific (the magnitude of the breaking effort per unit cross-sectional area, kgf / mm 2, Pa) or now - breaking length (conditional length at which freely suspended fibers are torn from their own gravity). Genotypic factors, feeding, keeping, physiological state of animals influence (pregnant and lactating queens with good feeding, thinning of wool fibers, with insufficient - “hungry fineness”).

crimped wool: the thinner the fiber, the more crimped it is. Curl forms: normal (height = half base), stretched, flat, high, compressed and looped. Extensibility: difference between the true length of the fiber and its length at the moment of break, %. Elasticity- the property of fibers to restore their original shape and size in whole or in part after the termination of the force that violated them. Elasticity- the speed of restoration of wool to its original shape. Softness determined by the thickness and histological structure of the fibers. Valkost- the ability at a certain temperature and humidity to easily fall into a dense mass - felt. spinnability- the ability to form a variety of yarns for the manufacture of products. Hygroscopicity- the property of wool to absorb moisture from the environment, while the mass of wool can increase by 50%. Humidity: the amount of water contained in the wool (mechanically retained). Color depends on the presence in the cells of the cortical layer of pigment grains of melanin (white, black, red, gray). Shine- the property of wool to reflect rays of light.

Organization and conduct of sheep shearing

A plan is drawn up for the month (place and dates, number of shearers, schedule for supplying flocks to the shearing point, etc.).

Terms depend on natural and climatic conditions and weather (dry). Spring haircut in May - June, autumn - in July - August. Late shearing is not allowed, the wool falls off and becomes clogged, molting begins.

If the flock is unfavorable in terms of sanitary indicators, it is sheared last. First of all, less valuable sheep are sheared - for fattening, then adult heaps, brood flocks and rams - producers.

Before shearing, fasting is carried out (12 hours, drowns out stress, wool is not contaminated with feces). Shearing points for 12, 24, 36 and 48 jobs. Depending on the livestock, terms of shearing and labor productivity of shearers, 1 (500-600 heads) or 2 flocks are served per day.

The shearing point is separate, or the premises are adapted; The territory is divided into industrial and economic zones. In production: shelters for unshorn sheep, a shearing station, equipment for veterinary treatment, passages for inlet and exit of unshorn sheep, a trapper's pen. In the household: a table, showers, mobile cars. Production area: shearing, wool grading, packing, laboratory, storage area. Before shearing - trimming the legs, head, belly (helps improve the quality of wool). Queens 2 - 3 weeks before lambing, others - before going out to pasture. After shearing, sheep are examined by a veterinarian, damaged areas are treated with iodine, preventive treatment of hooves and antihelminthic treatment (within 1 week after shearing) is carried out.



The hairline of animals, which has spinning qualities or felting properties, is called wool. Various fabrics and cloths, blankets and carpets, hats, felts and felt mats, heat and sound insulating materials used in construction, aviation, etc. are made from it. Woolen fabrics are beautiful, hygienic, lightweight and elastic, retain heat well, and are wear-resistant.

Sheep wool in the mass consists of individual fibers. According to their appearance and technical properties, the following types of woolen fibers are distinguished: down, awn, transitional fiber, dead, dry, covering, protective, tactile hair, pesigu and camp. The fibers differ from each other in appearance, morpho-histological structure and physical and technical properties.

Down is the thinnest and most crimped wool fibers, usually without a core layer. The fineness of down fluctuates from 25 to 14 or less micrometers. The wool of fine-fleeced sheep consists of fluff, and coarse-wooled sheep consists of fluff, transitional hair, awn. Downy fibers consist of cortical and scaly layers, the cross section has a round or oval shape. Compared to other fibers, the down has a shorter length, due to which a lower, shorter layer of wool is formed in sheep with heterogeneous wool. An exception among the coarse-wooled is the Romanesque sheep, in the wool coat of which the down is longer than the awn. In terms of technical properties, down is the most valuable fiber.

Awn - less crimped and thicker, having a well-developed heart-shaped layer, wool fibers that are longer than fluff and transitional hair. Awned fiber characterized by wool fineness from 52 to 75 microns, consists of scaly, cortical and core layers, the core layer is continuous. The awn is part of the coat of coarse-wooled and semi-coarse-wooled sheep. The thinner it is, the more valuable wool is in terms of its technological qualities.

The technical properties of the awn are lower than those of down. With a decrease in the fineness of the awn, its technical properties increase.

A variety of awns are dry, dead, covering, protective, tactile hair, dog and camp.

dry hair- coarse awn, characterized by dryness, stiffness and fragility of the outer ends of the fibers. It differs from the usual awn in less brilliance. Technologically, dry hair occupies an intermediate position between the awn and dead hair. It is found in the wool of most coarse-wooled sheep.

Dead hair -- very coarse and brittle outer fiber, with an extremely developed core layer and a wool fineness of more than 75 microns. When bent, it does not form an arc, but breaks. When you try to stretch it, it breaks. It does not have the shine characteristic of wool fibers, it does not stain. It does not hold well in woolen products, quickly collapses and greatly reduces the quality of the fabric. The presence of dead hair in wool, even in small quantities, drastically impairs its technological properties.

Covering hair in structure and fineness close to the awn. It differs from other fibers in a short length (no more than 3-5 cm), stiffness, strong luster, lack of crimp, often has a different color than the bulk of the wool. Has no practical value.

Pesiga- Woolen fibers found in the wool of fine-fleeced and semi-fine-fleeced lambs, which stand out among other fibers with greater length, coarseness and less crimp. During the first year of life, the dog is replaced by the usual fibers typical of the breed. It is noted that lambs with a large number of dogs are stronger.

Protective hair -- awn fiber growing on the eyelids of sheep.

Tactile hair -- awn fiber growing at the tip of the muzzle of a sheep. The tactile hair is connected with the endings of nerves, it is a kind of biological “radar”, it is important for animals when orienting themselves to pasture, using feeders, drinking troughs, etc. It is impossible to cut tactile hair.

Kemp -- coarse fibers of the awn type, white, not stained, brittle, found in the wool of fine-fleeced and semi-fine-fleeced sheep, are inherited, which must be taken into account in the breeding process.