ASSESSING THE CURRENT STATE OF IMPROVEMENT WHICH AFFECTS THE QUALITY OF FIBRES AT THE KARAKUL OF BOTOŞANI BREED

I. Nechifor, C. Pascal, M.A. Florea

Abstract
   The aim of the research was to assess the current state of improving some characters on which depends the quality of fibers of the loops from the Karakul of Botoşani breed. The importance and usefulness of these investigations is the fact those many of the characters on which the overall value of the pelts depend are influenced by length, thickness, gloss, resistance and elasticity of the fibers that make up the loop.
   At the black variety through the improvements based on selection it has come that at the generations of lambs subjected to assessments, the average value was reduced gradually with 0.44% in 2013, with 1.94% in 2014 and in 2015 with 7.45%.
   At the grey variety the constant of the selection for this character allowed the genetic progress to be even more obvious since in the same period that character has been reduced from 17.22±0.52 mm to only 15.98±0.23 mm, in which case the genetic progress obtained is represented by an improvement of this character with 7.2%.
   Analysis of data related to the thickness of the fibers highlight the genetic progress and the varieties of black and grey color the current state of the average thickness of the fibers from the loop are sensitive smaller compared to the other color varieties, however, insignificant in terms of statistically for p<0.01.
   The frequency analysis of the lambs in relation to the mode of reflection of light, indicates an improvement of this character on the interval, by increasing the proportion from 47.03% at the generation evaluated in the 2013 season at nearly 52% in 2015, and the proportion of individuals presenting fibers with a good degree of smoothness, meaning the normal and silky type, was of 76.3%.
   On the basis of the carried out research it can be said that the improvement of the Karakul of Botoşani breed is in progress, but to improve their respective characters is requiring the application of a progressive directional selection.

Key words: Karakul of Botoşani, quality fibers, pelts