The Wool Characteristics of Turkish Merino, German Blackheaded Mutton Sheep, Hampshire Down, Lincoln Longwool, Corriedale and Their F 1 and B 1 Crossbreed Sheeps

Authors: MEHMET EMİN TEKİN, RAMAZAN KADAK, ALİ AKMAZ, ALİ ERGİN

Abstract: This study was conducted to investigate the wool characteristics of Turkish Merino, German Blackheaded Mutton Sheep, Hampshire Down, Lincoln Longwool, Corriedale and their F 1 and B 1 crossbreed sheeps. A total of 2669 shearing records obtained from 1993 to 1996 were used in this study. The effects of genotype, age, shearing year, sex and post shearing body weight on greasy fleece weight and wool characteristics were examined wit least Squares method. The effects of all the examined factors on greasy fleece weight and staple length were significant, except sex on staple length. The effects of genotype and shearing year on fibre diamater were significant, and the effects of genotype, sex and shearing year on fibre twine were significant. The population averages of greasy fleece weight, staple length, fibre twine and fibre diamater were 3.29 kg, 9.81 cm, 8.38 units and 24.55 µ, respectively, for Merino and crossbreds. The least squares means of same characteristics for Turkish Merino were 3.29 kg, 7.90 cm, 10.24 units and 21.32 µ; and for all of crossbreed types 2.77-3.77 kg, 8.55-11.23 cm, 7.29-9.08 units and 23.90-25.72 µ respectively; and the difference between genotypes were statistically significant. The correlation between post shearing body weight and greasy fleece weight, staple length, fibre twine and fibre diamater were 0.31, 0.14, 0.12 and -0.10, respectively, in Turkish Merino crossbreeds; between greasy fleece weight and staple length, 0.31; between staple length and fibre twine -0.37; and between fibre diameter and staple length and fibre twine were 0.29 and -0.29, respectively. All these correlations were significant. As a result, both Merino's and their crossbred's wool yields and wool characteristics for industry were good quality.

Keywords: Turkish Merino, mutton sheep, crossbred, wool characteristics.

Full Text: PDF