Abstract
The strategy of conservation of endangered sheep populations implies morphological and genetic characterization, as basic preconditions for their conservation. The aim of this study was to determine the morphometric characteristics, their correlations and the index of physical development of Pirot pramenka, which has the status of the most endangered population in Serbia. The measuring was performed on 30 sheep, aged 3 years, reared in the area of Stara Planina. The descriptive statistical procedure was performed using the statistical package Statistica (version 8). The average height at the withers was 56.31 cm, body length 62.93 cm, chest width 18.37 cm, chest depth 25.96 cm, chest circumference 77.59 cm, shin circumference 6.70 cm. The strongest and significantly positive correlation (P <0.05) was found between chest depth and height at withers (0.65), body length (0.58) and body weight (0.56). Pirotska pramenka has slightly higher indices of format, chest and massiveness, in relation to breeds Vitoroga Zuja and Travnik Pramenka. These morphometric traits suggest that, compared to previous research, the body frame of Pirot pramenka sheep did not change significantly, which means that there were no crosses with other breeds due to geographical isolation and enthusiasm of breeders to preserve the indigenous Pirot pramenka which was the starting point for following authentic brands: Pirot lamb, cheese and carpet. Hence the biological and moral imperative: to preserve this highly endangered population.
Highlights
Strains of the indigenous breed of sheep - Pramenka were formed during a long process of evolution in certain biological areas, limited by geographical entities, in different feeding and housing conditions, which resultedDragana Ružić-Muslić et al.in their specific morphological and production performance
Pirotska pramenka has slightly higher indices of format, chest and massiveness, in relation to breeds Vitoroga Žuja and Travnik Pramenka. These morphometric traits suggest that, compared to previous research, the body frame of Pirot pramenka sheep did not change significantly, which means that there were no crosses with other breeds due to geographical isolation and enthusiasm of breeders to preserve the indigenous Pirot pramenka which was the starting point for following authentic brands: Pirot lamb, cheese and carpet
According to data of the Domestic Animal Diversity Information System (DAD-IS), in 2021, 207 females and 25 males are reared in Serbia
Summary
Strains (ecotypes) of the indigenous breed of sheep - Pramenka were formed during a long process of evolution in certain biological areas, limited by geographical entities, in different feeding and housing conditions, which resultedDragana Ružić-Muslić et al.in their specific morphological and production performance. Strains (ecotypes) of the indigenous breed of sheep - Pramenka were formed during a long process of evolution in certain biological areas, limited by geographical entities, in different feeding and housing conditions, which resulted. The expansion of high yielding breeds in the race for profit, on the one hand, as well as the depopulation of the rural environment, on the other hand, caused some strains of Pramenka to become endangered in their biological survival. Pirotska pramenka is one of the most endangered sheep populations in Serbia. The variability and differentiation of different strains of pramenka in the Balkans has been the subject of numerous studies: Mioč et al (1998; 2003) performed tests on Lika and Dubrovnik Pramenka, while Antunović et al (2013) and Novoselec et al (2020) determined the morphometric properties of Travnik pramenka. Važić et al (2016; 2017a; 2017b) compared the exterior measures of the Privor, Dub and Kupreška pramenka, while Ćinkulov et al (2003) conducted research on Tsigaia and Pihler et al (2019) examined the phenotypic variability of Vitorog Žuja breed
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