Livestock Studies 1969, Vol 9, Num, 3-4     (Pages: 055-071)

Comparisons Among Morkaraman and Merino x Morkaraman crosses in respect of liveweight and fleece characteristics

B. Cahit YALÇIN ,Şefik MÜFTÜOĞLU

- Fat tailed Morkaraman sheep and their crossbereds with Mutton Merinos were compared in respect of liveweight, greasy fleece weighth and fleece characteristics. Data included production records obtained in 1968 shearing season of 1 and 2 year old females raised at Altındere State Farm in Eastrn Anatolia. At these ages, 156 and 50 Morkaraman (MK), 121 and 97 F1, 73 and 24 first backcrosses to Merino (MB1), and 118 and 68 second and further backcrosses to Merino (MB2+) respectively were used. 50 1 year old Land Merinos (ML) were also included as a separate group. All groups were raised under similar conditions.

Mean values for the characteristics studied in 1 year old MK, F1, MB1, MB2+ and ML groups were found as follows: Body weight at shearing 35.2, 37.4, 34.3, 33.6 and 33.5 kg, greasy fleece weight 1.06, 1.59, 1.53, 1.61 and 1.60 kg, staple length 10.0, 8.4, 7.5, 7.6 and 6.9 cm, fiber diameter 29.1, 25.9, 23.8, 23.1 and 23.5 micron; tensile strength 15.9, 10.7, 10.1, 9.2 and 9.0 g; and elasticity 29.1, 26.1, 27.1, 26.7 and 28.9 %, respectively. Mean values for 2 year old MK, F1, MB1 and MB2+ groups were, 44.6, 44.4, 49.7 and 44.9 kg. for body weight at shearing, 1.27, 1.97, 1.99 and 2.22 kg. for greasy fleece weight, 11.2, 8.5, 7.0 and 6.7 cm for staple length, 34.0, 27.7, 25.4 and 23.6 micron for fiber diameter, 20.5, 12.6, 10.9 and 10.8 g For tensile strength, and 30.8, 30.3, 29.7 and 25.1 % for elasticity. Differences among groups were statistically significant for all characteristics studied.

The above results show that crossbered groups are superior to Morkaraman in greasy fleece weight, fiber fineness and fiber uniformity, their staple mength, tensile fibre strength and fiber elasticity being at sasisfactory levels. Among the crossbred groups, F1 is superior in body weight and stapl length, MB2+ is puperior in fleece weight and fiber fineness to the other groups, while MB1 has a desirable average fineness (60`S) with the same uniformity as in MB2+, Although the fact that fleece weight and important fleece characteristics of coarse wooled Morkaraman sheep could be improved by crossing with Mutton Merinos was shown with this study, additional research on fertility, lamb growth rate and lamb survival is required for the final and overall evaluation of this crossbreeding. Keywords :