Research Article
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The Environmental Impact on Economically Significant Traits in Central Anatolian Merino Sheep

Year 2024, , 327 - 334, 15.05.2024
https://doi.org/10.47115/bsagriculture.1454613

Abstract

This research delves into the pre-weaning growth and fleece characteristics of the Central Anatolian Merino sheep breed, focusing on Türkiye's National Community-Based Small Ruminant Breeding Program. The study encompasses Central Anatolian Merino lambs born between 2016 and 2021 across 22 farms in Ankara province, amassing a dataset of around 35,344 observations. Economically important traits such as birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), average daily weight gain (ADWG), Kleiber ratio at weaning (KR), fibre diameter, and fibre length (measured in approximately 4,809 observations) were scrutinized. Rigorous statistical analyses, including outlier identification, normality assessment, and the development of linear mixed models, were employed to unravel the impact of environmental factors on these traits. Significant findings emerged, indicating that birth weight, weaning weight, and the Kleiber ratio were substantially influenced by variables such as sex, birth type, birth season, birth year, and flock size. Moreover, average daily weight gain exhibited noteworthy variations attributed to gender, birth type, birth season, birth year, flock size, and other environmental factors, underscoring their collective impact on growth. Fleece traits displayed considerable diversity influenced by gender, birth type, birth season, birth year, and flock size. This study sheds light on the intricate interplay between environmental factors and pre-weaning growth traits within the Central Anatolian Merino sheep breed. Beyond its scientific contributions, this research provides valuable insights aimed at bolstering productivity. The adaptability of the Central Anatolian Merino breed to arid climates and challenging pasture conditions positions it as a key player in Türkiye's broader agricultural development.

Ethical Statement

The measurements of the study were conducted under the supervision of the Animal Experiments Local Ethics Committee of the International Center for Livestock Research and Training.

Supporting Institution

General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies (Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry) of the Republic of Türkiye,

Thanks

The animals were under the National Community-based Small Ruminant Breeding Programme. Therefore, the authors kindly acknowledge the contribution of the General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies (Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry) of the Republic of Türkiye, who fund and run the National Community-based Small Ruminant Breeding Program.

References

  • Aktaş AH, Dursun S, Dogan S, Kiyma Z, Demirci U, Halici I. 2015. Effects of ewe live weight and age on reproductive performance lamb growth and survival in Central Anatolian Merino sheep. Archiv Anim Breed, 58(2): 451–459. https://doi.org/10.5194/aab-58-451-2015.
  • Aktaş AH, Dursun Ş, Halıcı İ, Demirci U. 2016. Growth and survival traits of central Anatolian merino lambs under breeder conditions. Lalahan Hayvan Araş Enstit Derg, 56(1): 13–19.
  • Alhamada A. G, Habib I, Barnes A, Robertson I. 2017. Risk factors associated with Brucella seropositivity in sheep and goats in Duhok Province Iraq. Vet Sci, 4: 4. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci4040065.
  • Atav R, Buğdayci B. 2022. An overview of the past present and future of merinoization activities in sheep breeds with quality wool yield in Turkey and previous studies on the wool characteristics of the Turkish merino (Karacabey merino): breed. Tekstil Muh, 29(127): 185–197. https://doi.org/10.7216/1300759920222912708.
  • Atav R, Gürkan Ünal P, Soysal M. İ. 2022. Investigation of the quality characteristics of wool obtained from Karacabey merino sheep grown in Thrace region-Turkey. J Natural Fibers 19(3): 1107–1114. https://doi.org/10.1080/15440478.2020.1795777
  • Bağkesen Ö, Koçak S. 2018. Ramlıç ve Dağlıç koyunlarda kırkım sonu canlı ağırlık yapağı verimi ve özellikleri. Kocatepe Vet J, 11(2): 148–155. https://doi.org/10.30607/kvj.402769.
  • Balasundaram B, Thiruvenkadan A. K, Murali N, Muralidharan J, Cauveri D, Peters S. O. 2023. Genetic parameters of growth traits and quantitative genetic metrics for selection and conservation of Mecheri Sheep of Tamil Nadu. Animals, 13: 3. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13030454.
  • Behrem S, Gül S. 2022. Effects of age and body region on wool characteristics of Merino sheep crossbreds in Turkey. Turkish J Vet Anim Sci, 46(2): 235–247. https://doi.org/10.55730/1300-0128.4171.
  • Behrem S, Tuncer SS, Şenyüz HH. 2022. Comparison of reproductive performance live weight survivability and fleece characteristics of indoor-raised Central Anatolian Merino and Malya sheep. Revista Brasil Zootec, 51: e20210036. https://doi.org/10.37496/rbz5120210036.
  • Behrem S. 2021a. Effects of environmental factors growth traits of Akkaraman. Livestock Stud, 61(1): 22–27. https://doi.org/http://doi.org/10.46897/livestockstudies.
  • Behrem S. 2021b. Estimation of genetic parameters for pre-weaning growth traits in Central Anatolian Merino sheep. Small Rumin Res, 197: 106319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2021.106319.
  • Ceyhan A, Erdoğan İ, Yıldırır M. 2009. Siyahbaşlı Merinos (Alman Siyahbaşlı Et x Karacabey Merinosu G 1 ) koyunların döl verimi kuzularda büyüme ve yaşama gücü özellikleri. Hayvan Üret, 50(2): 1-8.
  • Demiryürek M, Cellatoğulları Hİ, Arıcı D. 2017. Türkiye’de merinos koyunu yetiştiriciliği ve risâle-ı ağnâm1. Akad Sosyal Araş Derg, 51: 1–21.
  • Eskandarinasab M, Ghafouri-Kesbi F, Abbasi MA. 2010. Different models for evaluation of growth traits and Kleiber ratio in an experimental flock of Iranian fat-tailed Afshari sheep. J Anim Breed Genet, 127(1): 26–33. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0388.2008.00789.x.
  • Gul S, Arzik Y, Kizilaslan M, Behrem S, Keskin M. 2023. Heritability and environmental influence on pre-weaning traits in Kilis goats. Trop Anim Health Prod, 55(2): 85.
  • Gül S, Keskin M, Güzey Y. Z. 2019. Path analysis of the relationship between weaning weight and some morphological traits in Awassi lamb. KSU J Agric Nat, 22(Suppl 2): 431-435.
  • Gül S, Mahmut K, Biçer O, Gündüz Z, Behrem S. 2020. Effects of different lambing season on some reproductive characteristics of ewes and growth performance of lambs in Awassi sheep. Lalahan Hayvan Araş Enstit Derg, 60(1): 32–36. https://doi.org/10.46897/lahaed.779729.
  • Ingham V. M, Fogarty N. M, Gilmour A. R, Afolayan R. A, Cummins L. J, Gaunt G. M, Stafford J, Edwards J. E. H. 2007. Genetic evaluation of crossbred lamb production. 4. Genetic parameters for first-cross animal performance. Australian J Agri Res, 58(8): 839–846. https://doi.org/10.1071/AR06368.
  • Keskin M, Gül S, Biçer O, Daşkiran I. 2017. Some reproductive lactation and kid growth characteristics ofc Kilis goats under semiintensive conditions. Turkish J Vet Anim Sci. 41(2): 248–254. https://doi.org/10.3906/vet-1604-33.
  • Khan NN, Ganai NA, Alam S, Shanaz S, Hamadani A, Rather MA, Bukhari S, Shah RM, Jalal H, Wani N. 2020. Genetic evaluation of growth performance in Corriedale sheep in J&K India. Small Rumin Res, 192: 106197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2020.106197.
  • Koyuncu M, Duymaz Y, Bölümü Z. 2017. Kuzularda yaşama gücünün iyileştirilmesi. Hayvan Üret, 58(1): 46–56.
  • Koyuncu M, Uzun S. K. 2009. Growth performance of Karacabey Merino and Kivircik lambs under semi-intensive management in Turkey. Small Rumin Res, 83(1–3): 64–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2009.03.001.
  • Li WH, Li GY, Zhang J, Wang X. J, Zhang A. W, Zhao JT, Wang LJ, Yang JF, Luo TZ, Shen KZ. 2022. Estimates of (co):variance components and phenotypic and genetic parameters of growth traits and wool traits in Alpine Merino sheep. J Anim Breed Genet, 139(3): 351–365. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbg.12669.
  • Mahala S, Saini S, Kumar A, Sharma RC, Gowane GR. 2020. Genetic trends for the growth rates and Kleiber ratio in Avikalin sheep. Small Rumin Res, 189: 106143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2020.106143
  • Özcan M, Yılmaz A, Akgündüz V. 2002. Türk Merinosu, Sakız ve Kıvırcık ırkları arasındaki melezlemeler ile kesim kuzularının et verimlerinin artırılma olanaklarının araştırılması. 1. Dölverimi, kuzularda yaşama gücü ve büyüme. Turk J Vet Anim Sci, 26: 517-523.
  • R Core Team. 2020. R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing Vienna Austria.
  • Scobie DR, Grosvenor AJ, Bray AR, Tandon SK, Meade WJ, Cooper AMB. 2015. A review of wool fibre variation across the body of sheep and the effects on wool processing. Small Rumin Res, 133: 43–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2015.10.025.
  • Sertkaya S, ÖZTÜRK A. 2022. Fleece yield and some characteristics of wool in Anatolian merino sheep. Selcuk J Agri Food Sci, 36 (1): 8-12. https://doi.org/10.15316/sjafs.2022.002.
  • Sezenler T, Soysal D, Yildirir M, Yüksel A, Ceyhan A, Yaman Y, Erdoğan İ, Karadağ O. 2013. Karacabey merinos koyunların kuzu verimi ve kuzularda büyüme performansı üzerine bazı çevre faktörlerinin etkisi. Tekirdağ Zir Fak Derg, 10(1): 40 - 47.
  • Sofla SS, Savar-Sofla S, Nejati-Javaremi A, Abbasi A, Vaez-Torshizi R, Chamani M. 2011. Investigation on direct and maternal effects on growth traits and the kleiber ratio in Moghani sheep. World Appl Sci J, 14(9): 1313–1319.
  • Sönmez R. 1959. Yapağının muayene ve değerlendirilmesinde kullanılan muhtelif metodlar ve bunların birbirleri ile mukayesesi. Ankara Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi Yayınları, Ankara, Türkiye, ss: 151.
  • Soylu MÖ, Yilmaz A. Akgündüz M. 2002. Türk Merinosu, Sakız ve Kıvırcık ırkları arasındaki melezlemeler ile kesim kuzularını et verimlerinin artırılma olanaklarının araştırılması 1. Dölverimi, kuzularda yaşama gücü ve büyüme. Turkish J Vet Anim Sci, 26(3): 517 – 523.
  • Şen U, Şirin E, Aksoy Y, Ensoy U, Ulutas Z, Kuran M. 2016. The effect of maternal nutrition level during mid-gestation on post-natal muscle fiber composition and meat quality in lambs. Anim Prod Sci, 56(5): 834-843.
  • TUIK. 2023. Livestock production number of sheep and goat. https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Kategori/GetKategori?p=tarim-111&dil=1 (accessed date April 18, 2023).
  • Unlusoy I, Ertugrul O. 2016. The effects of exon 2 of inhibin βB gene and exon 3 of FSHB gene on litter size in Akkaraman and Bafra sheep breeds. Kafkas Üniv Vet Fak Derg, 22 (5): 771-776.
  • Yilmaz O, Denk H, Bayram D. 2007. Effects of lambing season sex and birth type on growth performance in Norduz lambs. Small Rumin Res, 68(3): 336–339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2005.11.013.
  • Yılmaz O, Ertuğrul M, Wilson R. T, Cengiz F. 2012. The farm animal genetic resources of Turkey: sheep-II-crossbreed and extinct genotypes/breeds. Bitlis Eren Univ J Sci Technol, 2(2012): 38-43.
Year 2024, , 327 - 334, 15.05.2024
https://doi.org/10.47115/bsagriculture.1454613

Abstract

References

  • Aktaş AH, Dursun S, Dogan S, Kiyma Z, Demirci U, Halici I. 2015. Effects of ewe live weight and age on reproductive performance lamb growth and survival in Central Anatolian Merino sheep. Archiv Anim Breed, 58(2): 451–459. https://doi.org/10.5194/aab-58-451-2015.
  • Aktaş AH, Dursun Ş, Halıcı İ, Demirci U. 2016. Growth and survival traits of central Anatolian merino lambs under breeder conditions. Lalahan Hayvan Araş Enstit Derg, 56(1): 13–19.
  • Alhamada A. G, Habib I, Barnes A, Robertson I. 2017. Risk factors associated with Brucella seropositivity in sheep and goats in Duhok Province Iraq. Vet Sci, 4: 4. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci4040065.
  • Atav R, Buğdayci B. 2022. An overview of the past present and future of merinoization activities in sheep breeds with quality wool yield in Turkey and previous studies on the wool characteristics of the Turkish merino (Karacabey merino): breed. Tekstil Muh, 29(127): 185–197. https://doi.org/10.7216/1300759920222912708.
  • Atav R, Gürkan Ünal P, Soysal M. İ. 2022. Investigation of the quality characteristics of wool obtained from Karacabey merino sheep grown in Thrace region-Turkey. J Natural Fibers 19(3): 1107–1114. https://doi.org/10.1080/15440478.2020.1795777
  • Bağkesen Ö, Koçak S. 2018. Ramlıç ve Dağlıç koyunlarda kırkım sonu canlı ağırlık yapağı verimi ve özellikleri. Kocatepe Vet J, 11(2): 148–155. https://doi.org/10.30607/kvj.402769.
  • Balasundaram B, Thiruvenkadan A. K, Murali N, Muralidharan J, Cauveri D, Peters S. O. 2023. Genetic parameters of growth traits and quantitative genetic metrics for selection and conservation of Mecheri Sheep of Tamil Nadu. Animals, 13: 3. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13030454.
  • Behrem S, Gül S. 2022. Effects of age and body region on wool characteristics of Merino sheep crossbreds in Turkey. Turkish J Vet Anim Sci, 46(2): 235–247. https://doi.org/10.55730/1300-0128.4171.
  • Behrem S, Tuncer SS, Şenyüz HH. 2022. Comparison of reproductive performance live weight survivability and fleece characteristics of indoor-raised Central Anatolian Merino and Malya sheep. Revista Brasil Zootec, 51: e20210036. https://doi.org/10.37496/rbz5120210036.
  • Behrem S. 2021a. Effects of environmental factors growth traits of Akkaraman. Livestock Stud, 61(1): 22–27. https://doi.org/http://doi.org/10.46897/livestockstudies.
  • Behrem S. 2021b. Estimation of genetic parameters for pre-weaning growth traits in Central Anatolian Merino sheep. Small Rumin Res, 197: 106319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2021.106319.
  • Ceyhan A, Erdoğan İ, Yıldırır M. 2009. Siyahbaşlı Merinos (Alman Siyahbaşlı Et x Karacabey Merinosu G 1 ) koyunların döl verimi kuzularda büyüme ve yaşama gücü özellikleri. Hayvan Üret, 50(2): 1-8.
  • Demiryürek M, Cellatoğulları Hİ, Arıcı D. 2017. Türkiye’de merinos koyunu yetiştiriciliği ve risâle-ı ağnâm1. Akad Sosyal Araş Derg, 51: 1–21.
  • Eskandarinasab M, Ghafouri-Kesbi F, Abbasi MA. 2010. Different models for evaluation of growth traits and Kleiber ratio in an experimental flock of Iranian fat-tailed Afshari sheep. J Anim Breed Genet, 127(1): 26–33. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0388.2008.00789.x.
  • Gul S, Arzik Y, Kizilaslan M, Behrem S, Keskin M. 2023. Heritability and environmental influence on pre-weaning traits in Kilis goats. Trop Anim Health Prod, 55(2): 85.
  • Gül S, Keskin M, Güzey Y. Z. 2019. Path analysis of the relationship between weaning weight and some morphological traits in Awassi lamb. KSU J Agric Nat, 22(Suppl 2): 431-435.
  • Gül S, Mahmut K, Biçer O, Gündüz Z, Behrem S. 2020. Effects of different lambing season on some reproductive characteristics of ewes and growth performance of lambs in Awassi sheep. Lalahan Hayvan Araş Enstit Derg, 60(1): 32–36. https://doi.org/10.46897/lahaed.779729.
  • Ingham V. M, Fogarty N. M, Gilmour A. R, Afolayan R. A, Cummins L. J, Gaunt G. M, Stafford J, Edwards J. E. H. 2007. Genetic evaluation of crossbred lamb production. 4. Genetic parameters for first-cross animal performance. Australian J Agri Res, 58(8): 839–846. https://doi.org/10.1071/AR06368.
  • Keskin M, Gül S, Biçer O, Daşkiran I. 2017. Some reproductive lactation and kid growth characteristics ofc Kilis goats under semiintensive conditions. Turkish J Vet Anim Sci. 41(2): 248–254. https://doi.org/10.3906/vet-1604-33.
  • Khan NN, Ganai NA, Alam S, Shanaz S, Hamadani A, Rather MA, Bukhari S, Shah RM, Jalal H, Wani N. 2020. Genetic evaluation of growth performance in Corriedale sheep in J&K India. Small Rumin Res, 192: 106197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2020.106197.
  • Koyuncu M, Duymaz Y, Bölümü Z. 2017. Kuzularda yaşama gücünün iyileştirilmesi. Hayvan Üret, 58(1): 46–56.
  • Koyuncu M, Uzun S. K. 2009. Growth performance of Karacabey Merino and Kivircik lambs under semi-intensive management in Turkey. Small Rumin Res, 83(1–3): 64–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2009.03.001.
  • Li WH, Li GY, Zhang J, Wang X. J, Zhang A. W, Zhao JT, Wang LJ, Yang JF, Luo TZ, Shen KZ. 2022. Estimates of (co):variance components and phenotypic and genetic parameters of growth traits and wool traits in Alpine Merino sheep. J Anim Breed Genet, 139(3): 351–365. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbg.12669.
  • Mahala S, Saini S, Kumar A, Sharma RC, Gowane GR. 2020. Genetic trends for the growth rates and Kleiber ratio in Avikalin sheep. Small Rumin Res, 189: 106143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2020.106143
  • Özcan M, Yılmaz A, Akgündüz V. 2002. Türk Merinosu, Sakız ve Kıvırcık ırkları arasındaki melezlemeler ile kesim kuzularının et verimlerinin artırılma olanaklarının araştırılması. 1. Dölverimi, kuzularda yaşama gücü ve büyüme. Turk J Vet Anim Sci, 26: 517-523.
  • R Core Team. 2020. R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing Vienna Austria.
  • Scobie DR, Grosvenor AJ, Bray AR, Tandon SK, Meade WJ, Cooper AMB. 2015. A review of wool fibre variation across the body of sheep and the effects on wool processing. Small Rumin Res, 133: 43–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2015.10.025.
  • Sertkaya S, ÖZTÜRK A. 2022. Fleece yield and some characteristics of wool in Anatolian merino sheep. Selcuk J Agri Food Sci, 36 (1): 8-12. https://doi.org/10.15316/sjafs.2022.002.
  • Sezenler T, Soysal D, Yildirir M, Yüksel A, Ceyhan A, Yaman Y, Erdoğan İ, Karadağ O. 2013. Karacabey merinos koyunların kuzu verimi ve kuzularda büyüme performansı üzerine bazı çevre faktörlerinin etkisi. Tekirdağ Zir Fak Derg, 10(1): 40 - 47.
  • Sofla SS, Savar-Sofla S, Nejati-Javaremi A, Abbasi A, Vaez-Torshizi R, Chamani M. 2011. Investigation on direct and maternal effects on growth traits and the kleiber ratio in Moghani sheep. World Appl Sci J, 14(9): 1313–1319.
  • Sönmez R. 1959. Yapağının muayene ve değerlendirilmesinde kullanılan muhtelif metodlar ve bunların birbirleri ile mukayesesi. Ankara Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi Yayınları, Ankara, Türkiye, ss: 151.
  • Soylu MÖ, Yilmaz A. Akgündüz M. 2002. Türk Merinosu, Sakız ve Kıvırcık ırkları arasındaki melezlemeler ile kesim kuzularını et verimlerinin artırılma olanaklarının araştırılması 1. Dölverimi, kuzularda yaşama gücü ve büyüme. Turkish J Vet Anim Sci, 26(3): 517 – 523.
  • Şen U, Şirin E, Aksoy Y, Ensoy U, Ulutas Z, Kuran M. 2016. The effect of maternal nutrition level during mid-gestation on post-natal muscle fiber composition and meat quality in lambs. Anim Prod Sci, 56(5): 834-843.
  • TUIK. 2023. Livestock production number of sheep and goat. https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Kategori/GetKategori?p=tarim-111&dil=1 (accessed date April 18, 2023).
  • Unlusoy I, Ertugrul O. 2016. The effects of exon 2 of inhibin βB gene and exon 3 of FSHB gene on litter size in Akkaraman and Bafra sheep breeds. Kafkas Üniv Vet Fak Derg, 22 (5): 771-776.
  • Yilmaz O, Denk H, Bayram D. 2007. Effects of lambing season sex and birth type on growth performance in Norduz lambs. Small Rumin Res, 68(3): 336–339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2005.11.013.
  • Yılmaz O, Ertuğrul M, Wilson R. T, Cengiz F. 2012. The farm animal genetic resources of Turkey: sheep-II-crossbreed and extinct genotypes/breeds. Bitlis Eren Univ J Sci Technol, 2(2012): 38-43.
There are 37 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Zootechny (Other)
Journal Section Research Articles
Authors

Yunus Arzık 0000-0002-3068-8155

Sedat Behrem

Mehmet Kızılaslan 0000-0001-6305-8742

Simge Tütenk Doğdaş 0000-0002-2638-3447

Çağatay Yıldız This is me 0000-0002-4152-6207

Publication Date May 15, 2024
Submission Date March 19, 2024
Acceptance Date May 11, 2024
Published in Issue Year 2024

Cite

APA Arzık, Y., Behrem, S., Kızılaslan, M., Tütenk Doğdaş, S., et al. (2024). The Environmental Impact on Economically Significant Traits in Central Anatolian Merino Sheep. Black Sea Journal of Agriculture, 7(3), 327-334. https://doi.org/10.47115/bsagriculture.1454613

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