Dr. Chris Lupton's Current Projects
Project # H-85590: Evaluation of Animal Fibers Using Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy
Project # G-9299: Wool Research, TX, WY, MT
- Project Number:
- Project Title:
- Evaluation of Animal Fibers Using Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy
- Investigator:
- Objectives:
- Develop a fast, accurate, and potentially inexpensive technique for predicting wool base and vegetable matter base of greasy wool using NIRS.
- Develop a fast, accurate and potentially inexpensive technique for predicting mohair base and vegetable matter base of greasy mohair using NIRS.
- Approach:
- A large number (>2000 each) of pre-measured greasy wool and mohair samples representing the broad range of raw fibers available in the U.S. will be purchased for a nominal fee from the commercial testing lab belonging to cooperator Angus McColl. These samples will have been previously tested for wool base, vegetable matter base, average fiber diameter (and variability), and average fiber curvature (and variability). Each sample will be scanned in duplicate in the visible and near infra-red ranges of the spectrum using a near-infrared spectrophotometer. Subsequently, the stored spectra will be analyzed and prediction equations will be developed for each of the measured properties. Using pre-measured sets of raw fibers that were not included in the calibrations, we will determine the accuracy of prediction of the NIRS technique for each of the properties measured on greasy wool and mohair. When the accuracy of the NIRS predictions approaches or exceeds the accuracy of current standard methods, we will be in a position to advocate use of the NIRS methods by animal fiber testing labs throughout the world.
- Non-Technical Summary:
- Objective measurements of animal fibers are expensive. The measurements are necessary for producers and scientists to make optimal progress in selection for superior fiber traits and to monitor the effects of nutrition. They are also necessary for effectively marketing and establishing the value of the raw materials and for predicting processing characteristics for the textile industry. This project examines the potential of near-infrared spectometry to accurately predict important raw fiber properties of wool and mohair and to produce inexpensive (but accurate) test methods.
- Key words:
- Wool; mohair; near-infrared spectroscopy
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- Project Number:
- Project Title:
- Wool Research, TX, WY, MT
- Investigator:
- Objectives:
- Develop and evaluate near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy
for rapid estimation of clean fiber base in greasy wool and mohair and luster in
mohair and alpaca.
-
Evaluate two automatic image analysis systems for rapid, objective evaluation of
fiber diameter of raw wool and mohair, and luster in mohair and alpaca.
- Use objective measurements to improve
improve or monitor fiber and/or meat production;
quality; and income to producers through improved selection, nutrition,
management, and marketing efficiency.
-
Expected outputs are: a less expensive and faster method for measuring clean
yield of wool and mohair; a new method for measuring luster of animal fibers;
and, by collaborating with colleagues, fiber data will be made available for
seven experiments that include performance tests, selection experiments, and
nutrition trials with sheep and Angora goats.
- Approach/Methods:
- The
stated objectives will be met by conducting two sets of experiments. The first
set involves a continuing effort by this research group to evaluate and develop
instruments and methods for more rapid, accurate characterization of wool,
mohair, alpaca, cashmere, and other animal fibers. In the second series of
experiments, standard as well as newly developed instrumentation and methods for
measuring animal fibers will be used to (ultimately) monitor or optimize fiber
(and/or meat) production, quality and value. Justification for the proposed
research in based on the premise that the efficiency and profitability of wool,
mohair, and animal fiber production and marketing in general can be improved
through the expanded use of objective fiber measurements. Expanded use will be
achieved by making the measurements more rapid, more accessible to producers,
marketers, and manufacturers and, ideally, less expensive. Instruments to be
further evaluated and/or developed under objective one include: a near-infrared
reflectance spectrometer and two automatic image analysis systems, the Optical
Fibre Diameter Analyser2000 and the SAMBA luster system.
- Non-Technical Summary:
- This project will examine and contribute to
several approaches for making the U.S. animal fiber and sheep and goat meat
industries more competitive and more profitable. Near-infrared reflectance
spectroscopy (NIRS) will be further developed and evaluated to provide rapid,
accurate, and less expensive estimates of wool and mohair content, and alpaca
and mohair luster. Round trials will be organized and conducted with other labs
having NIRS capabilities to estimate wool base in greasy core samples; and, if
the trials produce adequate supporting data, a draft ASTM standard method will
be submitted for approval. Once a standard method is in place, the NIRS
measurements will not only be useful to producers, breeders, and researchers,
but also to marketers and processors for commercial transactions. In addition,
it is planned to use NIRS to estimate juniper consumption of free-ranging goats
by analyzing the spectra of their fecal material. An image analysis instrument,
the OFDA2000, will be further evaluated for field-testing of wool and mohair to
give producers fast, low-cost measurements of fiber diameter and staple length,
and in the warehouse for estimating fiber diameter of commercially baled lots by
measuring grab samples. Participation in seven other experiments is planned.
All have the general objective of using fleece and fiber measurements to
quantify or improve fiber and/or meat production, quality, and income to
producers through improved selection, nutrition, management, and marketing
efficiency. The experiments are: a central ram performance test; a central
Angora billie goat performance test; a cooperative breeding program for
Rambouillet sheep; a selection experiment with Angora goats to create a flock
that will consume higher levels of juniper species; comparison of female
productivity in two sheep breeds, Dorper and Rambouillet; an economic comparison
of wool versus hair sheep and fiber versus meat goats maintained on rangeland;
and effects of nutrition on fleece and fiber characteristics of sheep and Angora
goats.
- Key words:
-
wool; mohair; alpaca; cashmere; animal fibers; objective measurement; sheep;
angora goat; cashmere goat; near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy; automatic
image analysis
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