Productivity and Reproducibility of Sheep of the Tavrian Breeding Type of Askanian Breed at Different Breeding Methods and Conditions

Abstract

The study was conducted during 2013-2021 in the breeding breeder LLC "Agrofirma" Mayak "Kotelevsky district of Poltava region. Comparing the indicators of animals according to estimates in 2013 with the current herd, it was found that the group of live weight differs by only 1.4%. Rams of the modern herd exceed by 13.1% on this basis, and adult broods are inferior by 20.7%. The latter is a consequence of the intensive use of the main rams due to their use during the 6-month breeding cycle currently used on the farm. The wool productivity of the modern herd is 20.9% higher than that of the original herd. The shearing of unwashed wool in broodstock decreased by 15.1%, and in the other group - on the contrary, increased by almost 40%. The latter is a consequence of higher selection pressure in the formation of the group of broodstock at the present stage of work with the herd, compared to the previous period. No significant differences in the length of wool in sheep of different groups for the compared period were found. Depending on the age at grading, the indicators of the live weight of bright TTAs differed significantly. Animals born in March predominated both juniors (12-13 months old, born in April-May) by 2.2 and 10.1%, and older (15 months old) by 2.6%. At the same time, the brightness of the modern herd as a whole is 16.6% higher than the live weight of peers who were raised before the purchase in the maternal herd - breeding farm LLC"Askaniyske". In terms of unwashed wool shearing, the predominance was for the oldest animals (15 months old, born in February) by 13.5-24.2%. It was found that the indicators of live weight and shearing of unwashed wool local bright ½ TTAs x ½ W predominated purebred peers by 7.8 kg (14.5%). The difference in live weight compared to purebred animals of the Taurian type of Askanian breed, which lambed at 15 months of age was 7.2 kg, or 13.1% (p≤0.01), and between non-lambing peers - 9, 7 kg (16.8%). There was no difference in the shearing of unwashed wool and the length of the staple.