Minerals In Domestic Wools

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Abstract
This experiment reports the amounts of mineral elements in the wool fiber as determined from 50 fleeces collected from areas of known mineral deficiencies in the United States and Australia. Spectrographic and wet chemical methods were devised and adapted to the wool samples and special preparation techniques were developed. The values of moisture, ash, N, P and S in the wool samples varied within narrow limits. However, wide variations existed between the individual fleece values for the 24 elements, mainly mineral. Cu, Co, Mo, Ag and Zn were found in higher concentration in the wool than in associated dust. Co was found in detectable amounts in only 5 fleeces, while Mo was detected in only 9 fleeces. The results indicate the complexities of mineral metabolism in sheep as indicated in the chemical elements of the fleece and its component parts.

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