Characterisation and conservation of Sonadi and Malpura breeds of sheep: wool quality attributes

Analysis for wool quality attributes was carriedout for a total of 156 Sonadi and 93 Malpura wool samples collected randomly from 59 flocks of 18 villages in Chittorgarh district of Rajasthan during a survey conducted for Characterisation and conservation of these breeds under field condition. The average fibre diameter was 42.76±1.07 μ and 45.01±1.55 μ for Sonadi and Malpura breeds respectively. The percentage of nonmedullated. partially medullated and coarsely medullated fibres were 20.00±1.15. 18.34±1.14, 61.65±2.47 and l3.71±2.33. 20.66±1.86, 65.63±3.15 respectively for Sonadi and Malpura breeds of sheep. The length of the staple reached in a period of four months was 4.61±0.17 ern for Sonadi and 5.09±0.30 cm for Malpura animals. The need for improvement of these two breeds has been indicated. It is also suggested that either a compromise between production and conservation has to be reached or utility of these breeds should be improved by scientific seiection, if in situ preservation is to be taken careoff.