Breed of fine-fleeced sheep: TOP 6 species, features and characteristics, how to choose

The breed of valuable, fine-fleeced sheep has long been widespread in all corners of the globe. Pets uninterruptedly provide their owners with valuable fiber and delicious dietary meat. Picky animals easily put up with any conditions of detention and get used to an unfavorable climate. Breeding fine-fleece pets is traditionally considered a profitable business.

General characteristics of fine wool sheep

A variety of sheep originated from the ancestors - merino. The inhabitants of Italy and Asia Minor successfully bred unpretentious pets for more than 1000 years, and in the middle of the 18th century the animals gained fame in other countries.

Today, there are many breeds of fine-wooled animals. Each of them has its own characteristics, but the main properties of valuable animals remain unchanged. The main advantage of pets is the ability to easily adapt to any climatic conditions. Animals have a well-developed skeletal system.

All individuals of fine-fleece breeds have long, silky hair. Staple fibers have a wavy structure. The fineness of the hair is no more than 30 microns. The length of the strands does not exceed 10 cm. Animals secrete an impressive amount of lard. The composition of this substance includes lanolin.

Productivity

Curly handsome men - suppliers of soft and warm wool. The material is used to make clothing, insulation, pillows and blankets. Webbing products are especially valued. This name was given to lamb skins many years ago. Fine-fleeced and semi-fine-fleeced individuals give precious offspring. Animals are used as a source of meat and milk.Purebred pets are bred to breed new breeds and improve the quality of native sheep.

Wool

The light wool of fine-wool sheep is uniform and mostly consists of down. The maximum fineness value of the valuable fiber is 25 µm. Pets are regularly sheared. The annual shearing from a fine-fleeced animal depends on the breed of sheep. On average, rams give up to 16 kg of fleece, ewes - 7-8 kg.

The output of pure wool after wet processing is 30-50% of the original amount of raw material.

Fecundity

In order for sheep farming to be profitable, animals must actively breed. Young pets reach sexual maturity between 6 and 12 months. Pregnancy in animals lasts 146 days. If representatives of the fine-fleeced breed of sheep are able to give birth several times a year, the gestation period is reduced.At one time, the ewe is able to bring from 1 to 3 lambs.

Varieties of breeds

Depending on the purpose, experts divide fine-fleeced animals into 3 categories: wool, meat-wool (semi-fine-fleece) and meat individuals.

Soviet Merinos

The breed was developed in the first half of the 20th century. The ancestors of the Soviet merinos were Novokavkazsky and Mazaevsky sheep, as well as representatives of the Altai and Askani breeds. A feature of Soviet merinos is the division of animals into 2 varieties: wool and meat-wool individuals. Woolly pets are easily recognized by 2 transverse folds on the skin located in the neck area. On the same part of the body of meat-wool sheep there is only one longitudinal long fold. Soviet merinos are different:

• harmonious, proportional addition of the body;
• mighty skeletal system;
• straight, massive limbs;
• impressive body weight (sheep weighs 100-110 kg, ewes - 50-55 kg);
• thick, dense, snow-white coat covering the entire body of the animal.

For a year, males bring up to 16 kg of fleece. From ewes shear 6-7 kg of wool, 64-70 quality class. After wet cleaning, the yield of raw materials is 40%.

Pros and consSoviet merinos are prolific. Females are good mothers.Individuals are adapted to winter conditions of keeping and grazingWeakly developed muscles.They give little meat.I like it I don't like it

Sale sheep

Salsky sheep appeared as a result of the work of Soviet specialists.Scientists managed to cross valuable Rambouillet sheep with Novokavkazsk and Mazaev rams. Animals are adapted to the warm climate of the Rostov region. Large animals have enviable endurance and strong immunity. Representatives of the Sal breed are characterized by:

• powerful physique;
• wide, expanded chest;
• elongated torso shape;
• weight of mature ram reaches 90-95 kg, uterus - 50 kg;
• the presence of 2 deep transverse and one long longitudinal folds in the neck area.

Light strands of animal hair grow up to 7-8 cm. Annually, 16 kg of raw materials are sheared from sheep, up to 7 kg from sheep. The staple fleece obtained from the queens is rated 70 class. Males give wool level 64.

Pros and consFine structure of hair.Excellent yield of pure fleece.In non-breeding, there are individuals with poor quality wool.They give little meat.I like it I don't like it

Stavropolskaya

Stavropol wool sheep appeared in the 50s of the last century. To develop a new breed, local animals were crossed with Australian merino, rambouillet sheep and representatives of the New Caucasian sheep species. Stavropol pets are characterized by:

1. Slight growth. One-year-old rams grow with difficulty to 62 cm, the size of the female is slightly more modest.

1. Developed, strong skeletal system.
2. Slightly saggy croup and wide loins.
3. The average weight of a ram reaches 95-100 kg, the female gains 45-50 kg.
4. The strong neck is decorated with a couple of pleats. Sheep have horns.

Stavropol sheep are champions in building up a large amount of soft wool. The length of snow-white strands reaches 9-11 cm. The areas of the abdomen, head and limbs of the pet are especially heavily overgrown. Every year, more than 15 kg of excellent wool is obtained from each ram, up to 8 kg of raw materials are sheared from the ewe. After wet processing, the net yield of wool is 43%. Thick, delicate fleece belongs to the 64-70 degree of quality.

Pros and consEasily adapt to drought.Thick, silky fleece.Not very prolific.In non-breeding, there are individuals with deformed hocks and poor coat quality.I like it I don't like it

South Ural sheep

The birthplace of the South Ural sheep is the Orenburg region. Specialists have improved the local variety of coarse-haired animals with the help of Prekos sheep, as well as pets of the Tsigai and Stavropol breeds.

Individuals are well adapted to harsh climatic conditions. Pets are able to get food even under a layer of snow. Meat-wool South Ural sheep are different:

• powerful physique;
• rounded body;
• the presence of a "beard" in the neck;
• impressive weight (ram weight - 120 kg, sheep weight - 65 kg);
• good quality wool. The length of highly crimped strands reaches 9 cm. The quality mark is 60-64 degrees. After processing, the net yield of raw materials is 50%.

The breed is famous for its high quality meat. The product has a delicate, refined taste and is almost completely devoid of a specific smell. Animals are growing rapidly and actively gaining weight.

Pros and consThey give a lot of meat.Pets have well developed muscles.Not fertile.They secrete little fat. This reflects badly on the quality of the rune.I like it I don't like it

Sheep prekos

Prekos animals appeared thanks to French specialists. Breeders crossed fine-fleeced English merino with rambouillet sheep. Representatives of the meat-wool type of sheep fell in love with livestock breeders from the southern regions of the country, so they can be found in many farms. Thanks to the special structure of the hooves, pets move freely on the slopes of the hills.

For prekosov characteristic:

• flat, straight back;
• well-developed muscles;
• massive skeleton;
• widely spaced limbs;
• average weight for males is 82-100 kg, for females - 52-68 kg.
• head and limbs free of hair;
• The length of the snow-white strands is 10 cm, and the quality index is 60-64 degrees.

For 1 year, 8-9 kg of precious wool is sheared from a ram. The uterus gives 4-5 kg of raw materials. The net fiber yield after processing (washing) is 50%. Prekosy are fertile - in half of the cases of childbirth, females bring 2 lambs each. The main advantages of the prekos breed are the rapid maturation of the young and the excellent quality of the meat. By the age of 9 months, the animals are gaining weight and are slaughtered.

Pros and consEasily adapt to adverse conditions.Females are good mothers.Gaining mass quickly.They give a little rune.In prekos, the abdominal area is poorly overgrown.I like it I don't like it

Kazakh fine wool breed

As a result of crossing local fat-tailed animals with pets of the Prekos breed, Australian merinos and rambouliers, the Kazakh fine-fleeced sheep was born.

For representatives of the breed are characteristic:

• strongly built, elongated torso;
• impressive weight (male - 100-116 kg, female - 60-70 kg);
• The growth of a curly pet reaches 75 cm.

Polled Kazakh sheep are reliable suppliers of silky light beige wool. Up to 12 kg of raw materials are sheared from each male, females give wool no more than 5-6 kg. The fineness of the hair is 19.5-20.5 microns. The quality level of the strands is 64-70. Every year, the pet gives the owners 152 liters of fat milk (up to 9%).

Sheep pasture all year round. Animals are distinguished by rare endurance, calmly endure exhausting heat and frost. Pets are not picky about food. Even with poor nutrition, curly handsome men easily put on weight.

Pros and consIt is easy to get used to the year-round content in the open air.Fertile.Suitable for improving local varieties.Thickness and softness of wool leave much to be desired.Produces little fat.I like it I don't like it

Which is better to choose

The choice of animal breed depends on climatic conditions and geographical location of the farm. It is recommended to pay attention to unpretentious and hardy crosses.Such animals are born from representatives of different breeds. Of the purebred individuals, merinos are distinguished by high productivity.

Pets are known as a source of quality wool. One of the varieties of the Merino breed came to Russian livestock breeders from Australia.

Final ranking tableSoviet merinosSal sheepStavropolSouth Ural sheepSheep prekosKazakh fine-wool breed

Maintenance and Care

In winter, pets are kept in a common room. For these purposes, any spacious, ventilated building is suitable. Sheep with small lambs are isolated in separate stalls. The winter diet of pets consists of hay, corn silage and root crops. S alt must be put in the feeders, and clean water is poured into the drinkers.

In warm weather, animals are sent to pastures. There should be several plots, because pets eat grass cover to the very roots.By alternating grazing areas, livestock breeders allow the vegetation to recover. At night, the animals are kept under a canopy. Hooves are trimmed periodically, overgrown wool is trimmed and treated against helminths.

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