Investigation of the Quality Characteristics of Wool Obtained from Karacabey Merino Sheep Grown in Thrace Region-Turkey

Abstract

In this study 34 heads of Karacabey Merino sheep wools raised in various farms located around Tekirdag province, Turkey were investigated. Physical wool properties such as fiber fineness, length, strength, elongation, and greasy fleece weight were examined. Samples were collected during the shearing of the animals. Samples from three different regions such as head-neck, middle, and back from each animal were taken. According to the fiber fineness and strength results, all investigated factors were found to be statistically important. It can be said that fibers from the rams and the back region of the animal were coarser and stronger. Accordingly, it was observed that coarser fibers (fibers from males or from sheep with age range of 0-2) have lower elongation at break values in general. Furthermore, for fiber length only the factor age was statistically significant. On the other hand, greasy fleece weight increased with the increase in animal age and it was higher for rams than that of ewes.