Value addition to deccani plateau wool fibers

Abstract

The deccani sheep breed is a source for coarse wool-cum-meat. Gongali/ kambali is a traditional multi-purpose blanket with coarse deccani fibres. On an account of declining institutional and government purchases, the market for the kambali has collapsed. Thus, innovative approaches towards the use of deccani wool fibre will improve value added products that have potential market, which not only helps to provide livelihood security to the rural people but also improves export from the country as well address the burning issues like increasing demand, restoration of endangered sheep breed of the Deccan plateau, employment generation in rural and semi urban areas and will open new avenues in the field of research. Keeping in view the above advantages, coarser deccani wool fibres were softened with protease enzymes in order to attain pliable and smooth fibers, in turn can get good handle fabrics, thereby improving its processing and utilization. Enzymes being natural products are completely bio-degradable and require low activation energy to soften the fibres for further usage with enhanced fibre properties. Therefore the present study was undertaken to assess the performance characteristics of the deccani wool fibers treated with enzymes (Papain and Pepsin with 1, 2 and 3 per cent concentration). Among all one percent concentration enzyme treatment to fibers was proven to be soften the fiber without much change in its tensile strength.