MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF SHEEP WOOL OF FOREIGN SELECTION

Abstract

The article presents the data of an instrumental assessment of the parameters of
quantitative and qualitative indicators of rams and meat breed ewes’ wool of foreign selection
(Zwartbles, Charolais, Ile-de-France, Swifter, Bluefaced Leicester) which were imported to
the Stavropol Territory for their use on local sheep breeds in order to obtain youngstock with
high meat parameters.
The need to import meat sheep breeds of foreign selection with a high genetic
potential of productivity in particular, and its use on local sheep breeds to obtain youngstock
with high meat parameters was scientifically substantiated by scientists and specialists of the
All-Russian Research Institute of Sheep and Goat Breeding, as the head center of sheep
breeding in Russia. At the same time, it was taken into account that at present time sheep
breeding in the North Caucasus is mainly represented by animals of fine-wool and semifinewool breeds. Therefore, when using breeds of imported selection, it is important to know the
parameters of their wool productivity and cross breeds in such a way as to predict the wool
parameters of the youngstock obtained and their acceptability for the textile industry.
The experiment was carried out at the experimental station of the VNIIOK – branch of
the FSBSI “North Caucasus FARC” in 2020-2021. The obtained results of the research testify
that the productive parameters of the wool of imported foreign breeds (main rams and ewes)
showed that the Ile-de-France and Leister breeds had thinner wool (23.1-25.0 microns).
Zwartbles, Charolais and Swifter had less thin wool (30.0-34.0 microns). All animals had the
wool of the first length, except for Charolais (second length). Zwartbles, Charolais and
Swifter had stronger staple – 11.17-9.02 cN /tex. The rest were within the limits of possible
state standard parameters. The greatest amount of wool shorn in pure fiber was observed in
the Ile-de-France and Swifter breeds - 2.37 and 2.40 kg.
The data obtained should be taken into account when justifying the use of imported
rams on the ewes of fine-wool and semifine-wool breeds, which are bred in the Stavropol
Territory to obtain youngstock with wool parameters that meet the requirements of the textile
industry of Russia.