This study was carried out to investigate the effect of saline water and
flavomycin as a growth promoter on the wool follicle activities and some wool
characteristics in Barki sheep. Forty ram lambs 6 months old and 26.0 Kg live body
weight were divided into four groups, ten animals each. Group (1), as a co trol group,
group (2), treated with saline water, group (3), treated with flavomycin at ~ level of 20
mg/h/day, and the fourth (4) was given saline water and flavomycin. All roups were
fed on a basal diet to cover their requirements. Treatments continued for six months. Wool follicles' activities wer1! measured
using skin sections and wool samples were taken to study some wool characteristics
from the animals. The group treated with saline water showed a highly significant increase in the
external diameter of primary follides, but there were no significant differences in the
external diameter of secondary follicles. Saline water had no effect on internal
diameter of primary follicles, while it had highly significant effect on that of secondary
follicles. Wall thickness exhibited highly significant differences due to salinity in both
primary and secondary follides. Treatment with f1avomycin had no effect on the external diameter of primary
follicles, but had a highly significant effect on external diameter of secondary follicles.
internal diameter showed significant differences due to f1avomycin in both primary and
secondary follicles, Wall thickness in primary follicles showed no signiflcanl
differences, while in secondary follicles the effect of flavomvcin was highly significant. Saline water and flavomycin had no significant effect on fiber diameter,
staple length, and greasy fleece weight in treated animals. Medullati n and Kemp
percentages showed significant differences due to saline water and f1avomycin. It was concluded that both saline water and f1avomycin had so e effects on
activities of wool follicles and some fleece characteristics. However. these treatments
need to be applied for a longer time to ensure their effects on the successive fleeces.