EFFECT OF DIFFERENT SOURCES OF SPECIFIC VARIANCE ON TRAITS OF WOOL PRODUCTIVENESS IN CAUCASIAN MERINO BREED

G. Staykova, N.Stancheva

Abstract: An investigation with 1929 sheep from the Caucasian Merino breed at different age, belonging to the Kabiuk was carried out. The effect of year of birth (A), breeding line (B) and mating scheme (C) on the traits wool yield, staple length, clean wool yield and clean fibre were studied. The evaluations of the variance, representing the effects of the included factors and the F-values of significance of each of them were established. Heritability coefficients of the controlled productive traits and coefficients of determination for the applied model were estimated. It was established that year of birth is a significant source of specific variability for the wool yield (Р≤0.001), staple length (Р≤0.001), clean wool yield (Р≤0.001, Р≤0.01), and clean fibre (Р≤0.001), of all studied ages. The applied mating scheme has a significant influence on the traits wool yield at 1.5 year and at 2.5 year of age and clean fibre yield at 1.5 year of age (Р≤0.05). Heredity determined variability, relevant to lineage for the traits wool yield, staple length, clean wool yield and clean fibre was not established. The genetic determination of wool yield, clean wool yield and clean fibre at 1.5 year of age is high (h2 = 0.626, h2 = 0.869, h2 = 0.919) is a precondition for successful selection by phenotype in Caucasian population at that age.

Keywords: breeding lines; Caucasian breed; clean fibre; clean wool yield; wool yield; year of birth

Date published: 2017-05-23