Abstract
Dagestan is the leading Republic of Russia in terms of the number of sheep and sheep breeding products. The zoned target sheep breed in Dagestan is the Dagestan mountain breed. However, this breed produces thin but non-merino wool. Developing the Merino sheep breed suitable for mountain breeding is an urgent problem. The new Merino sheep breed was developed for the foothill zone of Dagestan, where summer Alpine and winter low-lying pastures are located at a distance of no more than 150 km from each other, and summer Alpine pastures are located at an altitude of up to 3000 meters above sea level. The research and stock breeding work was carried out at the farm production enterprise “Krasniy Oktyabr’”, the Kazbek district, in the period between 2005 and 2019. The work resulted in the development of the Arthlukh Merino sheep breed. (Patent for selection achievement No. 10112 “State Commission of the Russian Federation for Selection Achievement Tests and Protection”). The breed was developed by crossing the Stavropol sheep rams with the Dagestan mountain sheep, with the subsequent improvement of crossbreeds by the Manych Merino breed. A distinctive feature of the new Merino breed from the basic herdmates of the Dagestan Mountain breed is the high live weight, which is 15.3–16.5% higher in different sex and age groups. Besides, the amount of washed wool shorn is 16.2–26.0% higher. The ewes’ wool fineness is 22.9 microns (19.4–23.0) – 64 qualities. That of adult rams amounts to 23.3 microns (19.9–23.3) and has 60 qualities. The difference of the wool fineness on the side and thigh does not exceed one quality. The coat length on the side of ewes is not less than 9.0 cm, rams – 9.5 cm, gimmers (young ewes) – 9.5 cm and replacement rams – 10.0 cm. The wool strength is 7.0 cN/Tex. The belly wool cover is good. The suint is stable, of a white and light cream color. The average yield of washed wool excluding the lowest grades is 64%. The fertility of ewes ranged from 125% to 135%.
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