Relative wool production and quality performance of elite flock of Marwari sheep

Data on 1242 animals of elite and tester flocks of Marwari breed were scrutinized to assess the influence of various factors on adult and lambs' clips and wool quality parameters. The overall least squares means of adult spring, autumn and annual and lambs' first and second six monthly greasy fleece production were 899.26±5.68 g, 481.83±4.66 g, 1379.97±8.05 g, 577.73±5.81 g and 586.55±8.53 g. The overall least squares means of wool quality parameters were 36.15±0.27 μ, 32.77±0.61%, 18.34±0.42%, 51.22±0.73%, 4.69±0.05 cm and 0.56±0.01 per cm., respectively for fibre diameter, hetero fibres, hairy fibres, medullation, staple length and crimp. Group had highly significant effect on lambs' first clip, fibre diameter and crimp. Sex showed highly significant influence on adult clips, staple length and crimp and significant influence on hairy fibres. The effect of year was found to be highly significant on all adult and lambs' clips, fibre diameter, hetero fibres, staple length and crimp and significant on hairy fibres and medullation. The elite animals were found to be superior to tester animals with respect to greasy fleece production in lambs' first clip and wool quality parameter crimp. The fibre properties indicated that the wool produced by Marwari sheep is of good carpet quality. However, there is further need to reduce the magnitude of hairy fibres through appropriate selection programme.

Wool production and quality of Indian sheep requires immediate attention to meet ever-growing demand of human population for wool and woollens. The low level of present performance may be attributed to poor genetic potential and harsh and erratic climatic conditions. The Marwari sheep constitutes 10 per cent of country's sheep population and 50 per cent of Rajasthan state's sheep population. An elite flock using two stage sire selection programme has been developed at CSWRI, Arid Region Campus, Bikaner to improve the breed at farm and field area. This study is an attempt to evaluate the relative superiority of elite flock of Marwari sheep under farm conditions.