Livestock Studies 1973, Vol 13, Num, 1-2     (Pages: 034-049)

Wool characteristics of Awassi x Akkaraman crossbreds

M. Ali TEKEŞ

- The aim of this study was to determine the wool production and some wool characteristics of Awassi x Akkaraman crosses at Ereğli Zootechnical Research Institute `This crosbreeding has been craried out to improvement of milk production` The wool sample taken from total 274 sheep of Akkaraman, Awassi, F1, G1 first backcrosses to Awassi in various ages at 1972. The all fleeces weigted and the wool characteristics of staple length, fiber diameter absolute breaking strength, elasticity, percentage of medullation and clean fiber were determined by laboratory analyses.

Mean values for the wool characteristics studied in Akkaraman, Awassi, F1 and G1 groups were found as follows; greasy fleece weight 1.811, 2.453, 2.173 and 2.271 kg, clean fleece weight 1.161, 1.546, 1.476 and 1.466 kg, staple length 10.0, 16.9, 12.2 and 15.5 cm; fiber diameter 28.8, 30.0, 28.7 and 30.6 microns, absolute fiber strenghth 1137, 20.31, 12.91, and 12.34 gr, elasticity 27.21, 27.33, 30.48 and 30.86 %, medullation 1.7, 2.7, 2.3 and 2.0 %, respectively. Differences among groups were statistically significant for all characteristics.

The above results show that crossbred groups on superior to Akkaraman in greasy and clean fileece weight. The wool characteristics being at satisfactory levels for this type coarse wool, and the other hand crossbred wool were valuable than purbred because of most of kempy and medullated fiber have been being as a heterotyp fiber. Keywords :