Livestock Studies 2020, Vol 60, Num, 2     (Pages: 62-67)

Some morphological and physiological characteristics of South Karaman Sheep: I- Morphological features, body measurements and live weights

Dilek Tüney Bebek 1 ,Mahmut Keskin 2

1 Mustafa Kemal University, Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences Antakya, Hatay, Turkey
2 Mustafa Kemal University, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture Antakya, Hatay, Turkey
DOI : 10.46897/livestockstudies.712627 - In this study, it was aimed to determine the morphological features, body measurements and weights of South Karaman sheep, which is preferred especially by nomadic breeders in Mersin. The animal material of the study consisted of 100 head South Karaman sheep raised in the nomadic system in Tarsus district of Mersin province. The sheep which remained in the tent in the Bahşiş village that is neighbour of the Tarsus district of Mersin province in winter period, and then they migrated to the Çilnili Lake, which is located within the borders of Çamlıyayla district of Mersin province from the beginning of June to the end of October. In the study, morphological features were determined by observation, and body measurements and weights were determined by measuring. At the end of the study, it was determined that the South Karaman sheep are generally black or blackish ash colour. Males of this breed are usually horned and females are hornless. It was also determined that there is an `S` shaped structure at the end of the fat tail in South Karaman sheep. Keywords : Colour, Horn, Tail type, Body measurement, Live weight