Red blood cell concentrations of reduced glutathione and potassium as biochemical markers of wool growth in Merino sheep

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Abstract
SUMMARY: Wool growth rates were estimated in Merino ewes differing in their red blood cell concentrations of reduced glutathione ([GSHRBC]). Over a 42-day wool growth period, sheep with low [GSHRBC] maintained significantly higher rates of wool growth. Red blood cell concentrations of K+, ([K+RBC]), [GSHRBC] and estimated gene frequencies for the low [GSHRBC] and high [K+RBC] genes were determined in flocks of Merino ewes bred for high or low clean fleece weight. The high fleece weight flock had a significantly lower [GSHRBC] and higher gene frequency for the low [GSHRBC] allele than the low fleece weight flock. The high fleece weight flock also had a significantly higher [K+RBC] and a higher gene frequency for the high [K+RBC] allele than did the low fleece weight flock.