Wool productivity of ewes of different origin

Abstract

The article presents the results of the comparative study of sheep wool productivity of Tuva coarse-haired short-fat-tailed breed and the desired type of Tuva-Saradzha semi-coarse-haired breed. The study was conducted in 2018-2019 in the farms of the Republic of Tuva. For the experiment, two groups of ewes were formed: control (Tuva coarse-haired short-fat-tailed breed) and experimental (Tuva-Saradzha semi-coarse crossbreeds of the desired type). The study of the yield of pure fiber and the physical and technical properties of the wool were carried out according to generally accepted methods. During the study animals were in the same conditions of a year-round pasture management. The amount of wool shorn and the physical and technical properties of wool of Tuva-Saradzha cross-bred ewes and Tuva purebred short-fat-tailed ewes varied significantly. Tuva-Saradzha semi-coarse-haired ewes of the desired type exceeded their peers of Tuva region in terms of greasy wool shorn by 67.4%, and the yield of pure fiber – by 5.6%. When comparing different fractions of wool fibers in the hair of local semi-coarse ewes, the amount of beard hair was 3.3% less, and heterotype hair – 4.4% more than in the wool of Tuva ewes. The study of the fineness of wool fibers showed that in TuvaSaradzha ewes down and heterotype fibers were thicker (21.34; 57.45 μm), and beard hair was thinner (62.34 μm) compared to Tuva ewes. Sheep of semi-coarse breed had the longest hair. Research data on the physical and technical properties of wool of Tuva-Saradzha semi-coarse-haired ewes of the desired type demonstrated good prospects of the breed for the selection process.