Published in Scientific Papers. Series D. Animal Science, Vol. LVIII
Written by Ion BUZU
The purpose of this research was to evaluate the particularities of Moldovan Karakul lambs hide features and identify factors influencing its quality. The research was conducted on Karakul sheeps in sovhoz "Kotovschi" from Căinari district and Experimental Station of the National Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, from Anenii Noi district, Republic of Moldova. The lambs hide thickness was determined according to the purpose of research, through the palpation and measurement methods using cutimeter (foldimeter) on the lambs evaluation, made on the next day after being born, and measuring under the microscope using eyepiece micrometer on histological samples of hide, taken for evaluation purpose. The density and hide reserves were determined by the palpation method at the evaluation. The research results have shown that the qualities of Karakul lambs hide is related to a number of factors both internal and external. The Moldovan Karakul lambs have thicker hide compared with Asian Karakul lambs, average hide thickness measured with cutimeter on the evaluation constituting 2.0 to 2.6 mm. Features of lamb hide qualities are correlative link between them and a string of other characters, such as curls size, curls type, lamb constitution, class of evaluation, age of ewes-mothers at birth, etc. Hide thickness of Moldovan Karakul lambs is in a positive phenotypic correlation with the size of their curls and ewes- mothers at birth, and in negative correlation with hide density, reserve hide, fertility, type of curls and general class of its own. The hide of Moldovan Karakul lambs after evaluation is suitable dense (83.8% of individuals) and very dense (12.8% of individuals), being in positive phenotypic correlation with the type of curls and in negative correlation with hide thickness and lamb constitution. Karakul lamb's hide reserve after evaluation is, in the majority, free (from 46.1 to 72.0% of individuals) and folds (at 12.9 - 26.9% of lambs), being in positive phenotypic correlation with the type of curls, hide density and class of its own, and in negative correlation with the thickness of the hide and its own constitution.
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