THE LENGTH CURLS - IMPORTANT CHARACTER IN SELECTION OF KARAKUL LAMBS

I. Buzu

Abstract
   The purpose of this research was to reveal the optimum parameters of length curls at the Moldovan Karakul lambs and identify factors influencing this trait variability. The research was conducted on Moldavian Karakul sheep from flock of National Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine from Maximovca village, Anenii Noi district, Republic of Moldova. The length of the curls has been evaluated at the evaluation marks lambs, considering the dimensions of their differentiation (according to the instructions in force) in the following categories: long curls (over 30 mm), medium (20 to 30 mm), short (12 mm to 20 mm) and very short (up to 12 mm). It was found that the length of the curls at the Moldavian Karakul lambs is in negative relationship with of the fibers length and thickness of the skin. With the shortening fibers from 12-13 mm to 4-5 mm substantially increase the weight of lambs with very long curls from 1.4% to 66.7%, or 65.3% (td = 2.4; P <0.05). The reduction of fiber length from 16-17 mm to 8.9 mm, the weight increase the share of the lambs with long curls from 8.7% to 28.8%, or with 20.1% (td = 2.8; P <0.01). With thinning skin from thickened to thin category, the share lambs with very long curls increases from 2.4 to 6.8%, or with 4.4% (td = 2.6; P <0.01). At the lambs with type of curls costal and flat has been recorded the largest share of individuals with long curls (48.5 and 44.4% respectively) and very long (9.1 and 5.6% respectively) compared with 20 8 and 1.4% respectively at the lambs with curls jacket type. With increasing silky fibers from reduced up to excellent, significantly increases the rate of lambs with very long curls from 0.8 to 4.0%, or with 3.2% (td = 2.6; P < 0.01) and those with long curls, from 4.1 to 46.6%, or with 42.5% (td = 14.2; P <0.001). With increasing strength and elasticity of curls from reduced up to excellent increase the lambs share with long curls from 1.2% to 58.5% or 57.3% (td = 22.93; P <0.001). With increasing the degree of modeling curls from suitable to excellent, increase the share of lambs with long curls from 9.4 up to 66.9%, or with 57.5% (td = 19.2; P <0.001), and those with very long curls from 0.8 to 10.2%, or with 9.4% (td = 5.3; P <0.001). Therefore, the length curls at the Moldavian Karakul lambs is in negative relationship with the length of the fibers and thickness of the skin and in positive relationship with the type of curls, the silky and gloss of the hair fibers, strength and elasticity, making it one of the most important characters of the skin that determines the modeling of curls, skin value and lambs class at the evaluation marks.

Key words: curls length, Karakul lambs, quality, skin