MICROFLORA AND GREASE FLEECE OF NORMAL AND FELTED WOOL SHEEP OF UKRAINIAN CARPATHIAN MOUNTAIN BREED
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30970/sbi.2002.877
Abstract
Background. Sheep wool possesses felting properties, which form the basis of felt production. However, felting may also occur directly on the animal, resulting in wool defects. This phenomenon is particularly common in semi-coarse wool sheep of the Ukrainian Carpathian Mountain breed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the role of microflora and grease in the process of felt formation in ewes of this breed.
Materials and Methods. The microflora of the fleece was examined using culture-based methods on dense nutrient media. The amount of grease was determined by aqueous extraction of its salts. Wax was extracted using a Soxhlet apparatus and analyzed by thin-layer chromatography; the fatty acid composition was determined using gas–liquid chromatography after conversion to methyl esters via direct transesterification of fatty acids.
Results. Fleece with felted wool, in comparison with normal fleece, is characterized by a significantly higher sweat content (P < 0.01) and greater alkalinity (P < 0.05). This creates favorable conditions for the development of bacteria (P < 0.01) and mold, which, utilizing wax in their metabolic processes, reduce its amount (P < 0.001). A decrease in esterified cholesterol (P < 0.05) and an increase in polar lipid fractions (P < 0.01) and non-esterified fatty acids (P < 0.05) indicate ongoing hydrolytic processes affecting individual wax components. Changes in fatty acid composition result in an increase in erucic acid ((13Z)-docos-13-enoic acid, C22:1 ω9) (P < 0.05) and a decrease in one unidentified fatty acid (P < 0.01) and cerotic acid (hexacosanoic acid, C26:0) (P < 0.01). The latter may act within the fleece as a natural disinfectant. The total amount of saturated fatty acids in the wax of felted wool is lower, accounting for 50.46 %, compared to 58.81 % in normal wool; conversely, the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids is higher in felted wool (28.07 %) than in normal wool (16.20 %). An increased proportion of unsaturated fatty acids contributes to greater molecular susceptibility to peroxide oxidation.
Conclusion. Thus, changes occurring in the fleece environment, particularly in its microflora and grease composition, have a direct impact on the felting processes in semi-coarse wool sheep of the Ukrainian Carpathian Mountain breed.
Keywords
ewes, fleece, felted wool, microorganisms, wax, sweat, fatty acids
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