Determination of fleece qualities of malya sheep (11/16 Akkaraman X 5/16 Deutsches Merinofleischschaf) and effect of age and sex on these qualities

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate fleece qualities of Malya ewes and rams and effect of age (14 months age, 26 months age, 38 months age, 50 months age and 62 months age and older) and sex (ewe and ram) on fleece traits. The data were collected from 100 head ewes and 50 head rams raised at Malya State farm and were analyzed by using least squares method. The least squares means was calculated for greasy fleece weight (2.90 +/- 0.08 kg), clean wool percentage (50.05 +/- 0.69%), tenacity (18.72 +/- 0.52 Cn/Tex), fiber elasticity (31.17 +/- 0.43%), fiber diameter (26.66 +/- 0.19 mu m), staple length (H) (31.88 +/- 0.46 mm), and staple length (B) (47.67 +/- 0.72 mm), medullated fiber rate (23.52 +/- 0.73%), comfort factor (78.04 +/- 1.14%), and opacity (75.67 +/- 0.11%). Effect of age on all fleece traits was significant (P<0.001-P<0.05) except for fiber elasticity. Effect of sex on all fleece traits was significant (P<0.001-P<0.05) except for fiber diameter, tenacity and comfort factor. It can be generally concluded that younger and rams have higher fleece yield and fleece quality than older and ewes and fleece quality of Malya sheep was between textile and carpet industry and is closely similar to textile type wool.