Karakul breed selection for ensuring biodiversity of skin colors.

Abstract

Sheep breeding for skins is a traditional activity, which is developed in the North-East of Romania. The importance of growth of this breed is due to aesthetic and commercial value of skins and their default color. Research has been conducted in three traditional growth counties of Karakul breed, respectively Iași, Botoșani and NeamA£. Since the type Karakul sheep production is subject to official control for a large variety of colors, the investigations were taken into account only the basic colors. Based on the obtained results there have been highlighted several issues that the study can lead to diversification of colors and their shades. The applied research techniques are in accord with accepted international standards in carrying out this type of evaluation. Results may show the presence of the desired type of black lambs, which were found in greater proportion in livestock farms in the Iași County. They concluded that black sheep in this selection area for skin color intensity was found at an advanced level, compared to the progress in other counties. Greater share of black lambs founded for assessments, made normal lambs in NeamA£ County, requires that the future through applied selection actions to be retained for breeding only valuable offspring, so their numbers is significantly declined. The gray color showed a reduction in number of light lambs, from 6.3% to 5.3% and an increasing share of the dark ones, from 40.1% to 44.7%. This demonstrates that the routing mating is directing as well to establish as a scheme that allows for open few grayish lambs. The presence of grayish color lambs in livestock holdings included the production control of NeamA£ County kept about the same number in two analyzed seasons, but due to higher number of lambs subjected to assessments of their share reduced from 40.2%. Based on the obtained results we may indicate the presence of desired livestock color types is considered a high level, meaning that the selection of this breed is a constant and is performed in line with the improvement principles.