Some Morphologic Characteristics of Central Anatolian Merino Sheep

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the body weight and some body measurements in Central Anatolian Merino sheep regarding ages and to carry out a comparative analysis between them. The study included a total of 60 animals aged 2, 3 and 4 years old. The sheep were fed daily with hay, vetch, alfalfa and limited amount of concentrated feed (400 g/head) until the pasture period, and pasture grass and mixed grass-clover hay during the pasture period. The live weights of the sheep of different ages in the farms were measured with a digital scale, and some body sizes were measured using a measuring tape and a measuring stick. When the live weight and chest circumference values of the 4-year-old sheep were compared with the data obtained in the other age groups (2 and 3 years old), and it was statistically significant, chest width and rump height values were found to be similar to those in the 3-age group. There were significant correlations between live weight and chest circumference, between withers height and rump height and significant correlations between live weight and chest width, body length with rump height, chest width with chest depth. In addition, significant correlations were found between live weight and chest depth, and between withers height, body length, and chest depth. Present findings revealed that the Central Anatolian Merino sheep can be beneficial in the development of meat-type sheep breeding.