Published in Scientific Papers. Series D. Animal Science, Vol. LXIV, Issue 1
Written by Tsonka ODZHAKOVA, Genoveva STAYKOVA, Pavel TODOROV
Subject of the study were 682 sheep of the Karakachan breed, reared in three flocks in the region of the Middle and Western Rhodopes in 2018. The aim of the study was to create a phenotypic characteristic of the main selection traits of Karakachan sheep, under different breeding conditions in a mountainous area. The live weight and fertility traits were studied at 2.5, 3.5 and 4.5 years. Body measurements of sheep were taken at 2.5 years. The indexes for stretching, chest, massiveness and compactness were calculated. It was found that the Karakachan sheep breed meets the productivity and body measurements standards defined in the breeding program. The average live weight in the studied flocks varied from 36.620 kg to 39.410 kg under different conditions and altitude. The highest live weight was reached by the animals from the Agricultural and Stockbreeding Experimental Station (ASES) Smolyan - 40.53 kg at 4.5 years of age. The biological fertility for the studied period varied from 92.2% in ASES - Smolyan up to 103% in the village of Smilyan. Body measurements and body indexes establish the indicator dynamics, within the norm, under different breeding conditions and confirm the authenticity of the breed type in the Karakachan sheep breed.
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