Physico-Mechanical Properties of Dupska Pramenka Wool as Breed Characterization Descriptors

Summary The characterization of animal genetic resources includes morphometric, production and genetic characterization. This paper aims to determine the annual yield, staple length, and physico-mechanical properties of the wool of the Dupska Pramenka sheep. The average annual wool yields of a total of 130 ewes and 14 rams enrolled in the study were 2.120 kg and 3.340 kg, respectively. Wool samples were taken from the left shoulder, posterior rib, and pelvis of a total of 50 sheep (36 ewes and 14 rams). The lengths of wool staples collected from three body sites of the ewes were 20.92 cm, 21.75 cm, and 22.25 cm, respectively. The lengths of wool staples collected from three body sites of rams were 23.50 cm, 22.14 cm, and 23.64 cm, respectively. The height and length of wool fibers of the ewes were 21.97 cm and 22.85 cm on the shoulder, 22.38 cm and 23.10 cm on the posterior rib, and 23.06 cm and 23.77 cm on the pelvis. The height and length of wool fibers of the rams were 22.00 cm and 22.89 cm on the shoulder, 22.54 cm and 23.26 cm on the posterior rib, and 22.61 cm and 23.40 cm on the pelvis. The average fineness of wool fibers of the ewes was 43.08 µ, whereas the fineness of wool fibers of the rams was 45.43 µ. The Dupska Pramenka sheep were found to have mixed fibers: axillary (over 45µ), accounting for51.64% in the ewes and 54.91% in the rams, and transitional (30–45µ), accounting for 28.76% in the ewes and 32.80% in the rams. Fiber fluff (10–30µ) accounted for 19.83% and 12.98% in the fleeces of ewes and rams considered, respectively.