Determination of Goose Feather Morphology by Using SEM

Abstract

Goose feathers have importance because of not only a widespread usage in consequence of its lighter weight, softness and more compressible than other similar insulation materials, but also its highly organized dermoidal structure. Feather samples are taken from thoracal, cervical, dorsal, ventral wing and dorsal wing regions of local geese in both sexes. Samples covered with chrome by Polaron SC 500 and are examined by JSM 7000 Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Plumes have peculiarities in entrapping the air. Barbs in breast feathers arise bilaterally from rachis at about 35 degrees C. There is an increasing number of hooklets on the barbuls from proximal to distal end. The barbuls, which arise from contiguous barbs cross each other at 90 degrees C. Contour feathers on breast region are shorter than other general contour feathers in others areas. The most notable differences between cervical feathers are that they are 4 times longer in male than female and diameter of scapus is bigger in male. It represents that there is intensive vexilla in female because of their barbs which are thinner than those in male. The most important reason of softness and puffiness of plumae and semiplumae is that barbs are not connected each other in spite of they have hamulus. It is proposed that SEM can be very useful toot for textile industry to determine quality of the goose feathers.