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by
Angus McColl
The integrity of sampling - the
careful and proper selection of a
sample - is the most critical factor
involved in measurement of diameter
and other fiber measurement in
individual animals. The samples must
be taken at the middle of the side
in the blanket location. (See Figure
3.12 in the ARI screening manual,
published in this issue.) The sample
should be uniformly cut as close as
possible to the skin level, which is
the base of the staple, and should
be no smaller than 2 square inches
in size. The sample should be kept
in the staple configuration, which
is its natural growth state. It
should not be brushed out, cleaned
up, or folded. Flat-bladed shears
(such as round-tipped Fiskars
scissors) or clippers are
recommended as the safest tools to
use in taking samples.
Length of Fiber Sample
Maintaining the staple formation
of the sample submitted to the
laboratory is important for a
practical reason: The 2-millimeter
sample used for measurement in the
Laserscan is cut close to the base
of the staple to measure fiber that
has grown side by side under the
same environmental conditions. These
conditions include level of |
