THE GROWING AND AMELIORATION OF KARAKUL SHEEP IN THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA

I. Buzu

Abstract
    The purpose of this paper was to compare the historiography and evolution of the amelioration of sheep races Ţuşca, Karakul, to evaluate the efficiency of their crossing at the different stages of socio-economic development of the Republic of Moldova. The research was carried out on the basis of the analysis of the bibliographic sources of some authors from different historical periods of society development, as well as on own scientific researches in the long term (1989-2018). It was found that according to the historical traditions of the population in the northern and central areas of the Republic of Moldova, the locals grew local Ţuşca sheep breed, with mixed milk-wool-furskin production. The idea of improving the furskin qualities of lambs of the local Tusca race by crossing with Asian Karakul race appeared starting with 1884 in Basarabia, due to the excessively high furskin of Karakul pears worldwide and locally, compared to other ovine products (milk, meat, wool). The periodic imports from Turkestan of pure-blooded Karakul sheep at the end of the 19th century - the beginning of the 20th century, as well as in the interwar period, led to the establishment in Basarabia of nurseries of the pure Asian Karakul as pure race, as well as the first sporadic cross-breeding works with the local Țușca race for the improvement of the furskin qualities of lambs. After II World War, imports from Central Asia of Karakul sheep were systematically carried out every year in increasing quantities and the crosses of the local Țușca with the pure Karakul race had a mass character and were carried out by the absorption method. The mass crossbreeding of local ewes (Ț x K) with the Asian Karakul rams has led to some amelioration the lamb furskin qualities and, at the same time, to the reduction of sheep resistance to environmental hazards, a significant decrease in viability, body mass and milk production. From 1979 to 1980, the scientific researchers of the former Moldavian Branch of IUCŞK (Samarkand) applied a new approach to the process of selection of local sheep (ŢxK) after an integral complex of characters (furskin quality, body mass and production milk), elaborating the oviculture development strategy, a series of instructions and programs for genetic amelioration of sheep Karakul, methodical and technological recommendations for their selection under market economy conditions. As a result, in Republic of Moldova was created a new type of Moldavian Karakul sheep, adapted to the local environment conditions with increased production skills for furskin-milk-meat has been created and approved, which provides on average: the share of I sort furskins 65 -70%, body weight of youth at 6 months 35-40 kg , 55-57 kg in adult ewes, 90-95 kg in breeding rams, ewes milk production for the entire lactation 70-75 kg.

Key words: sheep, Țușca, Karakul, crossing, Moldavian type, furskin, milk, meat