Title
Non-invasive method for measurement of fiber density and fiber bundles in the skin of animals
Other title
Método no invasivo para determinar densidad y haces de fibras en piel de animales vivos
Date Issued
01 January 2019
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Publisher(s)
UCOPress. Cordoba University Press (UCOPress Editorial Universidad de Córdoba)
Abstract
Despite its importance in genetic improvement, the fiber density is one of the least known and poorly valued characters, probably due to its difficulty in measuring it. Therefore, a novel procedure has been developed with the objectives to measurament no-invasively, the fiber density (FibDen), fiber bundles by ducts (DucDen) and relationship between N° of fibers/N° of ducts (Fib/Duc) in llamas, alpacas and cattle. The new technique involves four steps: skin and fiber preparation in live animal, capture of skin and fiber amplified images, image storage and image processing and data presentation. A portable digital microscope modified and a computer where two proprietary software developed in C language were installed. The results of the procedure show that the images obtained in alpacas and llamas skin are clear, with up to 7 fibers visible in Huacaya alpacas and Ccara llamas. The averages ± standard error (SE) of FibDen are 23,60±0,36 and 12,73±1,41 fibers/mm 2 , for DucDen are 10,50±0,16 and 6,77±2,26 ducts/mm 2 and for Fib/Duc are 2,41±0,04 and 1,89±0,63 respectively for alpacas and llamas. The results are lowest in cattle and generally each hair emerge of each duct. It is concluded that the procedure allows obtaining at least 3 characteristics of llama and alpaca skin, with the possibility of extending its use in other species.
Start page
74
End page
81
Volume
68
Issue
261
Language
Spanish
OCDE Knowledge area
Ciencia veterinaria
Genética, Herencia
Subjects
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85061637732
Source
Archivos de Zootecnia
ISSN of the container
00040592
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica
Scopus