Fleece density of Avikalin sheep

Fleece density is one of the most important production traits indicating the potential of sheep and also provides on selection to increase productivity of wool without losing the fibre quality traits. Avikalin strain was developed by crossing Malpura sheep of Rajasthan with Rambouillet an imported fine wool breed. This strain is being stabilized by interse mating and selection. Efforts are also being made to further improve wool production. The present article analyses fleece density at different ages and sex of these animals and ponders over the possibility of using this parameter as a selection criteria. Eighty two animals of both sex and of different age were randomly sampled for wool from the different body regions. The number of fibres per square centimeter of the different regions were estimated following standard procedure. The results indicated that females harboured more fibres than males. The age effect and the region effects were also significant. The fleece density at midside, shoulder, britch and back region were 1468.56, 1446.54; 1549.06, 1366.34; and 1309.30, 1532.16 in males and females respectively.