SELECTIVE SIGNIFICANCE OF WOOL AND MEATCHARACTERISTICS OF KYRGYZ MOUNTAIN MERINO SHEEPIN IMPROVING THE TALAS INTRA-BREED TYPE

Abstract
The article presents the results of evaluating wool and meat-exterior characteristics
of the Talas intra-breed type of the Kyrgyz mountain merino sheep breed. The research was
conducted on the basis of the State Sheep Processing Plant named after M. N. Lushchikhin in Talas
region according to the data of sheep bonitation before shearing (2022) with the inclusion of three
sex and age groups: 24 months-old ewes, young ewes and 16 months-old rams (n = 80 in each group).

It has been found out that in terms of the cutting of unwashed and washed wool, the highest
values are typical for rams, the minimum values are for young ewes, with the intermediate values
for ewes. At the same time, the average indicators of fibre fineness in all groups are close to each
other and they are characterized by relative stability, which indicates the formation of a breed type
and the possibility of a targeted increase in wool productivity without deterioration in fiber quality.

Live weight and basic measurements of the exterior show a clear differentiation by sex and
age, and moderate values of the variation coefficients indicate the presence of a breeding reserve
for meat and exterior characteristics. The greatest variability is noted in the staple length, live weight
and the circumference of the pastern, which makes these signs promising for breeding selection.

The obtained results confirm the expediency of the comprehensive breeding assessment
of wool and meat-exterior characteristics in improving the Talas intra-breed type.

Keywords: sheep, Kyrgyz mountain merino, talas intra-breed type, wool productivity, wool
tone, live weight, exterior, breeding significance, variability of traits