88 MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF SHEEP 



useless for any combing purpose and very greatly im- 

 pairs its value for any use. The break may occur along 

 the length of the fiber according to the cause that may 

 have produced it, and the time when that cause was 

 operative. 



The immediate cause of break or joint is arrested 

 nutrition for a longer or shorter period. When the glands 

 that nourish the wool fibers are not sufficiently fed, they 

 are unable to furnish the materials for sufficient growth 

 in the wool ; no sooner does this happen than the growth 

 made by the fibers at such a time is less than normal. The 

 reduction will relate both to the size and strength of the 

 fiber, and the continuance of such enfeebled growth will 

 be exactly proportioned to the continuance of the period 

 of deficient sustenance. The weakess of the fiber will also 

 be proportioned to the degree to which sustenance was 

 wanting. The primary cause is, of course, the lack of 

 food or the lack of proper nutrition in the food, but other 

 causes may have a qualifying influence. These include 

 undue exposure, alkaline pastures and various forms of 

 disease which for a time have reduced condition in the 

 sheep. 



The cause of break or joint in wool being known, the 

 way to prevent it is also known. Ample and suitable 

 nutrition will always prevent it in healthy sheep. When 

 sheep can be kept healthy this weakness in wool cannot 

 occur. There may, of course, be conditions under which 

 it is impossible to furnish the requisite nutrition, as dur- 

 ing prolonged drought in range areas. There may also 

 be occasions when it is not possible to furnish the requi- 

 site shelter. Usually, however, on the arable farm suffi- 

 cient foresight may be used to safeguard the flock from 

 injury by the causes named, and therefore to prevent the 

 occurrence of break or joint in wool. 



Kemp or jar in wool Kemp or jar in wool, some- 

 times called gare, is simply hair. Though these hairs 

 occur singly, they may be distributed over the body. They 



