SECTOR PLAN OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT MINISTRY AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT ADER 2020 COD: 519 PROJECT TITLE: RESEARCHES REGARDING ACTUAL STAGE OF A NEW SHEEP BLOODLINE FORMATION, SPECIALIZED IN MILK PRODUCTION, OBTAINED FROM AWASSI RAMS AND TIGAIE EWE CROSSBREEDING, ADAPTED TO THE NORD- EAST ROMANIA PLATEAU AREA. Coordinator: SCDCOC SECUIENI-BACĂU Partner: USAMV Iaşi OCTOBER, 2018
THE AIM AND MAIN OBJECTIVE OF RESEARCHES The main objective in sheep blood line formation was getting a new blood line sheep with bigger milk production than Tigaie Ruginei race which is traditionally breed in this area. The research project run between 2015 and 2018 and had several stages. Specific objectives were planned in each stage to sustain main objective respectively production evaluation not only for a less know population but for that who is in training process and for what must made for homologation to a new biological creation.
SHORT PRESENTATION OF POPULATIONS USED IN CROSSING The research was conducted in a area with Romanian traditional races - Ţurcană and Ţigaie with his varieties white, black, belă, bucălaie and some crossbreeds of this. The new population have different characteristics from old and traditional race (Ţigaie and Ţurcană) from the formation area and is similar with races witch have on base to there formation Awassi race (Macedonian Awassi, Egyptian Baladi, Deiri, Syrian, Ausi, Nuami, Gezirieh). The new genotype is well adapted to environment conditions from the formation area, where in winter is very cold and in summer is drought, with good production near from milk races.
The used method utilized in new race formation was based on systematic crossing program between Țigaie Ruginie autochthon race and Awassi genitors imported from Israel after year of 1970. Through this crossing program wished to sum in a new genotype a genes responsible for milk production (provide from Awassi) with genes kept from locale race responsible with organic resistance, adaptability to different technological condition, resistance to climatic factors and pathogens agents. Now this population is reproductively closed from seven generation for that reason grows similarity between individuals and productive, reproductive and resistant traits were very well consolidated. Fig. 1. Genitor race used to create Awasi de Bacău race
PRESENTETION OF MORPFOLOGICAL TRAITS New population sheep exterior is specific for milk races. They are lively animals, move easily and effortlessly on rugged terrain or on slopes, proving they have a very good physiological balance. The color is composed of non-uniform white type. The hair located on the extremities, respectively on the head and limbs, is brown in color, but there are also some color particularities, mainly on the profile line of the head and on the muzzle there are also white fibers (Figure 2). On birth lambs are brown with different nuances At birth the lambs have brown color of different shades, with some areas depigmented on the trunk or the head (Figure 6), but at the same time as the elderly advances the hair cover depicts and becomes white (Figure 3). Fig. 2. The head of sheep Fig. 3. Color of lambs
The trunk is more developed in length, the ribs are weakly arched, the chest relatively narrow, the thoracic cavity enlarges and deepens towards the abdomen, as in the breeds belonging to the respiratory type (Figure 4). The spine line has a slightly upward trail from the withers to the croup giving the trunk a piriform appearance. Although the croup is wide, it is bevelled on the sides with a steep passage to the tail (Figure 11). The tail is long, consisting of 16-20 spiked vertebrae, with a larger upper part due to the presence of two fat-rich lobes (Figure 4). The mammary gland has good adhesion to the abdominal area, it is covered with a fine and elastic skin that contains fine and white fibers. It is composed of two symmetrical halves, and by development indicates a good lactogenic capacity. The teats have average values for the length of 3,875 ± 0,087 cm of extremely important aspect because they show the race predisposition of the milking. Fig. 4. Trunk shape, tail and udder aspect
Body development by age category for youth and adults The average body weight determined on the 870 ewe used for reproduction was 57.66 kg, bigger up to 23% from Tigaie ewe. However, the fact that in the population there were also sheep with a live weight more than 75 kg indicates that the population has potential and only through minimal technological measures (optimization of maintenance conditions and balanced nutrition) could change the average weight of population. Analyzing the rams live weight belonging to the new population, there is a good degree of body development. The average of this parameter was 85.48 kg which expresses a good reproductive condition (Table 1). The yearlings have a good corporal development. The yearlings ewes were in the mating season an average body weight from 42.81 kg represented 85% of adult body weight. Table 1. Body weight for different age category Analyzed Trait New population Awassi de Bacau Țigaie race V% V% Rams (n=120) 85,48 0,214 12,6 59,67 0,140 9,87 Ewe (n = 244) 57,66 0,087 9,87 44,35 0,078 11,14 Yearlings rams (n = 75) Yearling ewe (n = 240) 61,57 0,147 10,74 43,54 0,34 0,140 43,81 0,201 9,55 31,25 0,47 0,088
Lambs body weight in suckling period In sheep breeding and especially for meat production, it is desirable for the lamb's weight to be as high as possible at the time of birth, with the values between 4.5 and 5.5 kg being recommended. Table 2 summarizes data on body weight evolution in males. In order to evaluate the lactogenic capacity of the mothers as well, weightings were also performed at intervals of 28 days, 56 days and weaning (90 days). Body weight for male lambs was in average of 4.51 kg at birth, 12.31 kg at 56 days and 24.78 kg at weaning (table2). In this condition we can see that in first 28 days the weight gain was 2.73 times higher than average value at birth. At the age of 56 days and at weaning, the average weight is higher by 4.41 and 5.5 times, respectively, than average weight at birth. For the group of Tigaie males, the average weights of live body weight are slightly reduced in each age group. New population Awassi de Analyzed Trait Bacau Țigaie race V% V% Body weight at birth(kg) 4.51 0.14 14.27 4,28 0,11 11,4 Body weight at 28 days (kg) 12.31 0.21 7.61 13,65 0,14 9,11 Body weight at 56 days (kg) 19.92 0.29 6.53 18,44 0,22 8,14 Body weight at weaning (90 days) 24.78 0.65 9.14 21,35 0,23 7,25 Average daily gain for 0-28 days (kg/zi) 0.28 0.00 6.08 0.33 0.00 0.00 Average daily gain for28-56 days (kg/zi) 0.27 0.00 6.18 0,17 0,34 8,25 Average daily gain from birth to weaning (kg/head) Table2. Male body weight in suckling period 20.27 20 0.54 17,07 0,27 9,05
Assessing body development based on body measurements and corporal index. Biometric analysis is a method when an objective assessment of body development is desired. According to the purpose, the measurements are divided into three categories: mass, conformation and growth measurements. For more objective analysis of normal body development, measurements are made to determine body heights, lengths, widths, depths and perimeters. The fact that the height at the back and at the loin shows close values (69.87 cm and 69.19 cm respectively) denotes a horizontally arranged upper line, and due to the higher value at the croup (69.75 cm) the croup is arranged horizontally, so that population has mixed skills. 84.10 cm for chest perimeter and 7.11 cm for cannon bone indicates good body development and bone system. At yearlings like as adult sheep we can observe a good bone tissue development and the cannon bone perimeter was 7.81 cm for the yearlings ewes and 8.13 cm fot yerlings rams. Table 3. Average value for body dimensions at new population (cm) Mesuretments Rams Ewe ±s V% ±s V% Diagonal body lenght 79.55 1.29 5.37 72.92 0.26 3.89 Withers height 78.45 0.68 2.87 69.87 0.25 3.95 Back height 77.18 0.58 2.51 69.19 0.28 4.44 Height, at croup 75.45 1.06 4.64 69.75 0.29 4.51 Height at dock 69.27 0.71 3.42 64.77 0.39 6.59 Lărgimea toracelui 20.82 0.48 7.69 25.22 1.31 56.39 Barrel depht 33.91 0.39 3.83 30.27 0.33 11.86 Barrel Girth, at Heart 98.00 1.34 4.54 84.10 1.78 23.04 Left Fore Pastern Circumference 8.86 0.07 2.63 7.11 2.44 154.81 Body format index 101,40% 104,36 Transversal body format index 36,73% 36,09 Bones index 19,04 8,45 Massive index 124,9 120,3
individuals Assessment of specific indicators for reproductive activity. The fecundity index higher than 94% shows good skills for reproduction activity and the average value for this are similar with that for consolidated races. The group of tigaie ewes has an average fecundity index lesser with 1% than new race and for yearlins ewes was lesser with 5%. The average of prolificity index for new race ewes was 108,74% and 110,80 for yearlings ewes. Table 4. Matting lambing and reproduction indexes situation Specification U. Ewe for matting seson New population ewe Yearlings ewe ewe Țigaie Yearlings ewe 300 110 250 85 Matting ewe 300 104 247 76 Ewe with multiple matting 56 21 3 11 Lambing ewe 286 104 247 82 Lambs 311 115 275 83 Unviable lambs - 2 Reproduction indexes Fecundity index 95,33 94,54 94,54 89,41 % Prolificity index 108,74 110,80 111,33 101,21
SPECIFIC PRODUCTION TRAITS FOR NEW SHEEP POPULATION Milk production Average value for milk production obtained in 205 days of lactation was 139.67 kg and is presented in table 4. This level of total milk production is with 29.28% higher then Tigaie sheep which has an averege milk production of 98,77kg. Acest nivel al producției totale de lapte este mai mare cu 29,28 % mai mult comparativ cu cel înregistrat la populaţia formată din oi Ţigaie de la care pe același interval și în aceleași condiții s-a obținut o producție medie totală de 98,77 kg. Table 5. New population total milk production compared to another sheep population (kg) Limits Specificatiions Ti New population Awassi de Bacau Metiși F1 La x Ti n 140 115 14 98,77 139,67 94,70 1,29 1,61 3,57 V % 15,43 12,34 14,09 s 15,2448 17,2384 13,3515 Min. 76,82 97,15 76,82 Max. 138,89 187,99 115,24
In figure 5 we can see that the new population has a milk production with 25% higher than Tigaie and that can goes to obtain good economic results in sheep farms. Fig. 5. Milk production compared with another population
Meet production It is a obvious differantion forthe trait that determined slaughter yield between that two lots. Although the live body weight at slaughter for the group of the new Awassi de Bacau population was higher by 1,380 kg then in that, the parts of the carcass not included in the yield had a weight greater than 270g made the yield value be lower by 2.7% compared to the average value determined for Tigaie. From the specific index we can see a better relation between width leg of the carcass and dorsal length of carcass for Tigaie lambs. That shows a better conformation to the Tigaie with a better development of muscular tissue in essential parts of carcass. Width carcass index show a better rapport between widths dimensions from chest and leg for Tigaie race. Leg development index show close value for bought lots that indicates a good proportionality for this part of carcass and a favorable rapport between perimeters and length this facilitated a better muscular development in upper region.
Speciication Table 6. Results obtain at slaugther and cutting UM Awassi de Bacău Țigaie Vrancea Bacău Vaslui weight before slaughter kg 30,13±088 32,75 ±0,39 26,40 ± 0,28 24,00 ± 0,54 Carcass kg 13,33±0,44 13,48 ±0,62 10,50 ± 0,21 9,00 ± 0,38 Skin kg 3,14±0,08 3,20 ± 0,15 2,40 ± 0,12 1,90 ± 0,23 Legs kg 0,65±0,24 0,61 ± 0,06 0,60 ± 0,08 0,60 ± 0,03 Head kg 1,22±0,05 1,21 ± 0,24 1,15 ± 0,32 1,20 ± 0,22 Visceral mass kg 5,81±0,24 6,04 ± 0,54 9,05 ± 0,66 8,32 ± 0,51 Lungs kg 0,39±0,36 0,42 ± 0,31 0,35 ± 0,14 0,45 ± 0,41 Heart kg 0,14±0,47 0,13 ± 0,03 0,11 ± 0,07 0,11 ± 0,2 Liver kg 0,41±0,09 0,43 ± 0,04 0,40 ± 0,01 0,52 ± 0,05 Spleen kg 0,07±0,04 0,07 ± 0,01 0,07 ± 0,01 0,07 ± 0,01 Kidney kg 0,23±0,07 0,23 ± 0,08 0,16 ± 0,04 0,19 ± 0,06 Testicles kg 0,27±0,09 0,31 ± 0,04 0,30 ± 0,02 0,15 ± 0,05 Blood kg 0,8±0,04 0,80 ± 0,18 1,00 ± 0,12 0,80 ± 0,17 Gastro-intestinal content kg 0,9±0,09 0,91 ± 0,07 0,31 ± 0,08 0,69 ± 0,07 This results shows that Awassi de Bacau lambs had the same growing rate on lambing period and finally the same corporal development with Tigaie lambs.
Carcass quality and conformation assessment Carcass assessment by fat level was made based on fat distribution in internal and external part of carcass. The results are presented in table 6. Regarding the fat distribution on the external surface of the carcasses it was found fat thick tissue on superior line and posterior zone at local race and a uniform fat layer and a thin one on external part of carcass. Table 6. Carcass classification according U.E standards Category by conformation (%) S E U R O P by fat level (%) 1 2 3 4 5 Țigaie - - 19,67 60,66 19,67 - - 16,67 33,33 50,00 - Genotyp Awassi de Bacău - - - 50,00 33,33 16,77-25,00 50,00 25,00 -
Fig. 6. Lambs carcass (left Tigaie and right new population) On Tigaie lambs fat level was more obvious 50% from carcass was in 4th class and on Awassi de Bacau 50% was classified in the 3 rd class.
Wool production The length for wool and strand was determined directly on the animal, measuring the distance from the base to the tip of the majority of the fibers which forming the skeleton of the strand. The fiber of wool are thick and longer for rams. Categoria de vârstă The length fiber from strand (cm) short intermediate Long and thick Fineness of fiber from strand(μm) short intermediate Long and thick Rams 8,31±0,10 12,58±0,20 14,87±0,38 26,20 ±0,21 26,77±0,14 32,07±0,31 Yearlings rams 11,04±0,08 14,10±0,33 17,28±0,41 25,30±0,18 26,47±0,77 31,87±0,51 Ewe 8,08 ± 0,31 11,74±0,51 13,98±0,27 27,22±0,21 25,04±0,81 32,88±0,47 Yearlings ewe Table 7. The length and fineness of the wool fiber for the new population 10,84±0,31 13,25±0,41 16,84±0,30 26,14±0,55 24,53±0,74 32,15±0,38 The fiber thickness analysis reveals lower values in the youth categories for the three types of fibers that enter the strand structure. On yearlings rams average value for fibers that dominated in strand structure was 31,87±0,51 μm and 32,15±0,38 μm for yearlings ewe.
Wool yield on washing As a result of the determinations made on samples of wool, it is found that the average values are higher than 80% (Table 8). This is possible because the new population has a mixed wool and quantity of wool grease in the mass of the wool is smaller. Table 8. Yield and proportion of fibers in the strand Category Yield on washing (%) Proportion of fiber categories composing wool strand (%) short intermediate Long and thick Rams 83,13±0,08 32 51 17 Yearlings rams 85,40±0,07 33 55 12 Ewe 82,31±0,09 31 53 16 Yearlings ewe 84,57±0, 41 34 56 10
Quantitative evaluation of wool production The wool production analysis was based on the data obtained from the wool shearing campaign carried out in the year in which control of this character was applied. The biggest productions are obtained from rams and yearlings rams. In these categories, the average wool quantity was approximately 3 kg in rams and 2.25 kg in yearlings rams (Table 9). Tabel 9. Average of wool quantity and statistic parameters for the new sheep population ov Category n s V% max min Rams 8 2,95 0,125 0,251 8,530 3,2 2,6 Yearlings rams 16 2,25 0,259 0,7323 32,573 3,2 1 Ewe 74 1,646 0,058 0,501 30,455 2,8 1 Yearlings ewe 40 1,690 0,090 0,405 23,970 2,1 1
CONCLUSIONS The option to use cross breeding to form a new generation with superior production performance has proven to be a positive solution that allows the time for a better milk production in sheep compared to the. The use of the Awassi race was beneficial and allowed to achieve the primary objective of the research, since the average milk yield obtained during a 205-day lactation was superior by over 28% for crossbreed group compared with the same trait determined on local Ţigaie race. The new sheep population is distinguished by a different external aspect through well-established production and reproduction traits and has a high degree of adaptation to new conditions because it is found alsoin farms in south and southeast of the country. BACAU, 2018 PROJECT DIRECTOR Prof. univ. dr. Constantin PASCAL