Effect of the Lineal Belonging on the Traits of Economic Importance in Sheep from the Ascanian Fine Fleece Breed Raised in Bulgaria

S. BOIKOVSKI1, G. STEFANOVA1, N. STANCHEVA1 and D. DIMITROV2
1 Agricultural Institute, BG-9700 Shumen, Bulgaria
2 Agricultural Institute, BG-6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria Regional Center for Scientific and Applied Service, BG-7700 Targovishte, Bulgaria

Abstract

BOIKOVSKI, S., G. STEFANOVA, N. STANCHEVA and D. DIMITROV, 2006. Effect of the lineal belonging on the traits of economic importance in sheep from the Ascanian fine fleece breed raised in Bulgaria. Bulg. J. Agric.Sci, 12: 597-605

It was established that the live weight of female lambs from the Ascanian fine fleece breed at nine months of age was 62.23% of that of the adult animals at 3.5 years of age (65.56 kg) and at 1.5 years of age - 85.23%. The live weight at 100 days of age had highest values of the variation coefficient (C = 25.214%) and during the other age periods it followed a descending line reaching 9.868% at 3.5 years of age. The dams' fecundity was lowest at first lambing and increased with age by 5.17% at second lambing and by 16.6% at third lambing (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001). The present differences are highly significant for the values of the average wool yield obtained at 1.5 and 2.5 years of age compared to the wool yield at 3.5 years of age (P < 0.001). The value of variation coefficient of the average amount of clean fiber at 1.5 years of age was very high (C = 30.568%) and at 2.5 years of age decreased and reached 18.685%. A lineal differentiation was established for the live weight at 100 days of age, at nine months of age and at 1.5 and 2.5 years of age; for the average amount of unwashed and washed wool -at 1.5 and 2.5 years of age; for the natural length of wool, the fiber thickness of the side and the leg - at 1.5 years of age.

Key words: variation coefficient, unwashed and washed wool, output of unwashed wool, natural length of wool, fiber thickness