Quality of hair-coat covering and skin of Karakul lambs bred in Kalmykia

Abstract

Karakul breed of sheep is one of the oldest breeds. For the development of semi-desert pastures more than 176 thousand heads of Karakul sheep of gray and black colors were brought to the Republic of Kalmykia from the republics of Central Asia and Kazakhstan. Scientists of the Kalmyk Scientifi c and Research Institute of Agriculture and practical breeders were tasked with creating specialized herds of Karakul sheep of diff erent colors and krimmer lamb types that produce high-grade krimmer lambs. The purpose of the research was to study the quality of hair-coat covering and skin of Karakul lambs bred in Kalmykia. Some qualities of the hair-coat covering and skin of gray and black Karakul lambs in the APC “Polynny” and “Erdnievsky” have been analyzed in the article. The physical and mechanical parameters of the hair-coat covering and skin of Karakul lambs have been studied: the length of the hair in the curl, the hair tone, the degree of silkiness and shine, and the total thickness of the skin. Karakul lambs of black and gray color have diff erent properties of hair-coat covering; lambs of gray color have longer and thinner hair, relatively less shiny, dense hair-coat covering. The average length of white hairs in the rump area of the gray karakul was by 2,4±0,2 mm or 22 %, black hairs by 0,3±0,2 mm or 2,7 %, in the withers by 2,0±0,3 mm and 0,2±0,3 mm longer, respectively, than in similar areas of the black karakul skins. In the lambs of gray color more thick and rather loose skin than in lambs black color. Thus, the skin thickness of gray lambs was by 176 microns or 6,7 % more than black lambs. The primary follicles of white hairs are by 559 microns deeper, and the secondary follicles are 200 microns deeper than the hair follicles of black lambs. Features of the hair cover of lambs of diff erent colors are shown in absolutely identical conditions of feeding and housing, these diff erences should be taken into account when improving of Karakul sheep.