LPT 312: Abattoir Practices and Animal Products Technology (1+1)

DETERMINATION OF STAPLE LENGTH

• An instrument known as ATLAS (Automated Testing of Length and Strength) is used to measure staple properties. On the basis of large data collection following formula for the prediction of fibre length in the top (Hauter) from raw wool measurement was developed:

H = 0.52 x SL + 0.47 x SS +0.95 x FD‑ 0.19 M ‑ 0.45 x VM ‑ 3.5

 Where

• H ‑ estimated Hauteur
• SL ‑ Staple length
• SS‑ Staple strength
• FD ‑ Mean Fibre diameter
• M ‑ Percentage of Middle break
• VM ‑ Vegetable matter base
• The availability of this technology meant that processors could not predict the yield, mean fibre diameter and hauteur of the top, leaving relatively few important top parameters, which could not be predicted, from raw wool characteristics.