Genetic and non-genetic variability of wool production in the Egyptian barki sheep

Includes reference.

Barki sheep Flock of 937 sheep maintained at Mariout Research Station, close to Alexandria during three years were used in this study. Flock management was similar to commercial conditions in this area. Least squar means of annual greasy fleece weight of Barki sheep was 1.84± 0.06 kg. Annual greasy fleece weight highly significant decreased with advanced age. Year of shearing significantly affected annual greasy fleece weight . The kemp fibers content signiftcantly affected annual greasy fleece weight, where fleeces with few Kemp fibres had the heaviest weight followed, by medium and the lightest were the abundant Kemp fibres content. The annual skirting's weight tended to decrease with advanced age where the heaviest skirtings were produced from one year. Females produced significantly heavier skirtings than males. While, year of shearing affected annual skirting's weight (P<0.01). Staple structure and Kemp class had no effect on annual skirting's weight or percentage. Although single born and twins produced similar weight of skirting. Annual fleece wool weight (P<0.01) decreased with advanced age. Furthermore, Kemp score and year of shearing affected annual fleece wool weight significantly and highly significantly, respectively. Heritability estimates of greasy fleece weight. fleece Kemp score and skirting's weight were 0.55. 0.39 and 0.25, respectively. Genotypic correlation coefficients among some fleece traits of Barki sheep were studied.

Summary in Arabic.

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