WOOL FIBRE DIAMETER OF FINE-WOOL RAMS FROM THE BREEDING FARMS OF KALMYKIA

Abstract

Stud rams have the greatest influence on the breeding progress of the flock,
primarily due to the large number of their offspring. Therefore, a comprehensive assessment
of the potential of their wool productivity, made on the basis of instrumental measurements of
the basic properties of wool, is important. In this regard, the instrumental measurement of the
diameter of rams’ wool in the leading breeding farms of the Russian Federation is an urgent
scientific task, the solution of which can affect the direction and effectiveness of selective
breeding in flocks of fine-wool sheep. The purpose of the research was to establish the degree
of fineness and evenness of wool of the main rams of fine-wool breeds from the Republic of
Kalmykia to determine their productive potential and more accurately predict the parameters
of the wool from their offspring. This is considered important in the context of breeding planning and increasing the profitability of wool production. Sampling for research was carried
out in the period from May to June 2022 in 8 breeding farms of Kalmykia. Wool samples
were taken from main and replacement rams, including animals of show groups, from 2 topographic sections of the fleece: sides and haunches. Samples were taken from 389 producers of
Grozny, Stavropol and Chernozemelsky Merino breeds. It was established that the range of
fineness on the side of the rams from agricultural enterprises of the republic was 20,10 –
23,09 μm, on the haunch – 21,33 – 23,70 μm. Differences in degree of fineness between enterprises were greater than between breeds, which indicated a significant intra-breed diversity
of the trait. The wool of sheep of all breeds is quite well equalized in fineness in the staple
and meets the requirements of GOST 26383-84.