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An experiment was counducted to study the effect of different levels of dietary energy and protein on the activity of skin follicles and wool characteristics
in Varaminie ewes. Five different levels of combined metbolizable energy (ME) and crude protein (CP) were used. These levels for ME and CP were; 1.4 Meal
and 6.4%, 1.61 Meal and 7.7%, 1.9 Meal and 9.1 %,2.18 Meal and 10.5% and 2.44
Meal and 11.8%, per Kg dry matter of ration, respectively. Fourty ewes of three years old, with an average weight of 42.0+2.48 Kg, were treated for 112 days.
During the experiment, wieght of animals and weight of consumed feed were recorded, and 160 wool samples and 560 skin samples were collected and
examined. A completely randomized design was employed for the expriment and
data were analyzed using MANDV A procedure for characters with repeated measurments such as clean wool weight, staple length, fiber diameter and body
weight of animal. However one-way ANDV A was used for follicle characteristics such as the ratio of secondary to primary follicle (SIP), follicle density and the
percentage of active follicles. Results showed that the level of ME and CP had
significant effect (P<0.05) on wool characters so that with increase in ME and CP


level in the ration, clean wool weight, staple length and fiber diameter increased, but the efficiency of wool dropped. The microscopic examination on skin
follicules, showed no significant effcet of ME and CP level the ration on the SIP ratio and follicle density, while significant effect (P<0.05) was found on skin
follicle activity, compared to control group.