PHENOTYPIC AND GENOTYPIC CHARACTERISTIC OF THE MAIN PRODUCTIVE TRAITS OF THE ASCANIAN SHEEP BREED

Geoveva Staikova, Neviana Stancheva

Abstract: A study assigning 287 Ascanian ewes at different age for a seven-year period, 2003-2009, was initiated with the aim to establish the phenotypic and genotypic parameters of the main productive traits. The data were processed using the conventional statistical procedure. The heritability coefficients were calculated by a linear mixed model (Hinkovski et al., 1975). The established mean live weight at weaning ofthe Ascanian lambs is 25.289 kg. The mean wool yield of the ewes varies significantly among age classes from 4.500 to 6.178 kg (P<0.001, P<0.01, P<0.05). The clean wool yield at 1.5 and 2.5 yr of age is respectively 52.18% and 54.05% (P<0.05). The heritability coefficient for the trait live weight at 1.5 yr is high, h2= 0.889, which is supposed to provide for successful mass selection on phenotype at this age.

Keywords: Ascanian breed; clean wool yield; heritability; live weight; wool yield

Date published: 2023-02-20