The Body Weight after Shearing and the Greasy Wool Yield of Red Karaman Ewes at Different Raising Conditions in Turkey

Abstract

In this study, the body weight after shearing, the greasy wool yield and, the clean fleece percentage of “Red Karaman” ewes in different raising conditions were investigated. Animal material consisted of a total of 248 head of Red Karaman ewes in different flocks maintained in the villages of Alican (n= 50), Boyuncuk (n= 50), Bozbulut (n= 48), Çiçekli (n= 50) and, Yukarısızma (n= 50). Red Karaman ewes were sheared using shearing scissors at the beginning of June and beginning of July. Each of body weight of ewes after shearing and ewes' greasy fleece was weighed using electronic digital weighing scale. Fleece samples were taken from area of the last rib on the right shoulder of 12 head of ewes in each flock. Then, analysis of clean fleece percentage was performed in the laboratory. For Red Karaman ewes, the effect of shearing age on greasy wool yield was not significant but the effect of body weight after shearing on greasy wool yield was significant (p<0.01) in all villages. When all the farms were generally evaluated, the effect of shearing age and the farm on greasy wool yield was found insignificant but the effect of live weight after shearing was statistically significant (p<0.01). Least-squares means for greasy wool yield of Red Karaman ewes raised in Alican, Boyuncuk, Bozbulut, Çiçekli and, Yukarısızma villages were 1.51±0.05, 1.45±0.05, 1.39±0.05, 1.41±0.05 and, 1.20±0.06 kg, respectively. General least-squares mean for greasy wool yield of Red Karaman ewes was 1.41±0.021 kg. Effect of age on live weight after shearing in all villages was significant (p<0.01). The averages of body weight after shearing in Alican, Boyuncuk, Bozbulut, Çiçekli and, Yukarısızma villages were found as 54.26±0.96, 51.78±0.74, 52.96±0.76, 51.76±0.68 and, 58.22±0.86 kg, respectively. The average of live weight after shearing in all the villages was found as 53.80±0.40 kg. General mean for clean fleece percentage Red Karaman ewes was found as 64.55±5.80% in all the farms.