KARNOBAT SHEEP BREED. REVIEW

Genoveva Staikova, Margarit Iliev

Abstract: Issues related to the conservation of biodiversity, one of the priorities of the common agricultural policy of EU, are discussed in this scientific review. Information regarding the origin, current status and prospects of local Karnobat sheep breed is summarized. The advantages of local aborigine breeds are indicated in comparison with cultural ones as well as the reasons for the growing importance of this valuable part of the National geno pool in Bulgaria. The levels of the main productive traits and their dynamics through the years of local Karnobat sheep are shown in the investigations of different authors, dating from the middle of the last century. The results from our study, carried out in Institute of Agriculture – Karnobat in 2015, indicated an average live weight of animals – 46.282 kg which is normally for the breed according to literature data from previous studies and the average coefficient of variation of the trait – 11.78%. The average conception rate was 96.44%. The biological fertility was 110.7% average for the flock. The highest fertility was at the age of 4.5 (112.0%). According to monitoring made by authors in 2015, the actual population size of local Karnobat sheep in Bulgaria is 949 ewes, 35 rams or totally 984 sheep, raised in 7 farms. The place and role of the breeds carrying
greater or specific genetic variability is becoming increasingly important in today’s selection process. For repairing the negative effects of intensive selection in highly productive cultural breeds nowadays genetic reserves of native breeds could be used. Its significance acquires new meaning in relation to the growing threat of climate changes and implications.

Keywords: aborigine breeds; geno pool; Karnobat sheep breed; origin; productivity

Date published: 2018-05-28