MORPHOLOGICAL AND PRODUCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF TWO TSIGAIE ECOTYPES, USED AS GENETIC STOCK

Abstract

This paper investigates the morphological and productive characteristics of two Tsigaie ecotypes belonging to the red variety. They represent genetic stock and semen, oocytes and embryos will be harvested from them in order to be cryopreserved. The sheep belong to the hill ecotype (Jucu farm and SCD Turda) and the mountain ecotype (SCDCOC Reghin). Body dimensions and weight are characteristic for the breed and prove the superiority of the hill ecotype over the mountain ecotype. The differences between populations from the hill ecotype are an effect of the keeping and feeding, the measurements being higher for animals from the Jucu farm. Wool production of sheep from the mountain ecotype is close to that of animals form the Jucu farm. Characteristics list the sheep as part of the breeds having semi-fine wool. Milk production increases until the thirs lactation and then decreases. It is higher for the hill ecotype. Milk quality, expressed through fat and protein percentages is similar for the two ecotypes and characteristic for the breed.

Keywords

• morphological and productive characteristics
• tsigaie
• genetic stock