УДК 636.32/.38.082.

12

Evaluation of Productive Qualities of Sheep of Askani Fine-Wool Breed

Abstract. An important problem of modern breeding is the selection process, the basis of which is
based on a comprehensive assessment of the breeding gene pool, which will make it possible to
increase the genetic potential of the sheep of the Askanian fine-wool breed. The development of the
sheep breeding industry in Ukraine largely depends on the genetic potential of breeding resources,
which are used in the selection of pairs for mating. Thanks to such approaches, it is possible to
quickly achieve higher breeding rates of progress on the main traits of productivity. Therefore, the
intensification of sheep breeding not only increases the role of breeding, but also requires the
improvement of breeding methods, while the traditional practice of sheep breeding should
accumulate breeding methods based on a comprehensive assessment of the genetic potential. The
hereditary potential significantly affects the productive performance of sheep only after 4-5
generations with the targeted use of the best rams descended from highly productive queens.
Therefore, the purpose of this work is to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the productive
qualities of Askanian fine-wool sheep and identify the best sires, the use of which will ensure an
increase in wool productivity by increasing the genetic potential, which will make it possible to
obtain the next generation of animals more productive than the previous one.The results of the
research give grounds to assert that the main indicators of wool productivity, as well as indicators of
the live weight of sheep of different sex and age groups of the Askanian fine-fleeced breed, depend
on the origin, that is, the ram-producer and indicate sufficient opportunities regarding the hereditary
potential of this herd, which will make it possible to maintain compliance with the breed type and
realize their genetic features. At the same time, the analysis of the obtained research results allows
for a comprehensive assessment and identification of the best rams, providing an opportunity to
increase productivity, improve the quality of wool and reduce the cost of sheep products.

Key words: live weight, wool shearing, wool productivity, growth, development, economically
useful traits, sires.

Introduction. It has been established that highly productive parents have a significant
impact on the level of wool productivity not only of individual herds, but also of the breed as a
whole. Their genotype is one of the key points to speed up the integration and improve lines,
intrabreed types and breeds. And the practice of world and domestic selection and breeding work in
sheep breeding shows that in order to improve the productive qualities of sheep, it is necessary to
apply their comprehensive assessment. At the same time, it is important to pay significant attention
to the assessment of sires that have high breeding and productive qualities and can be the ancestors
of new family groups and lines. The works of many scientists, both domestic and foreign, have
established that the genotype of the parents is one of the key points that makes it possible to
accelerate the integration and improve lines, intrabreed types and breeds [1, 2].
When using the genetic principles of breeding animals, breeders set tasks that could identify
the best genealogical formations and outline the most promising ones for their further improvement,
study the genealogical structure, give a genetic explanation for the phenomenon of prepotency of
sires and queens, and establish the possibility of using the combination effect when breeding behind
lines [3 ].
The practice of world and domestic selection and breeding work in sheep breeding shows
that in order to improve the productive qualities of sheep, it is necessary to apply their
comprehensive assessment, which consists in ensuring that animals in each subsequent generation
surpass their parents in their productive qualities [4]. The success of breeding work largely depends
on the ability to most objectively determine the breeding value of animals using various assessment
methods [5]. When selecting sheep for further work, it is necessary, on the one hand, to exclude the
possibility of the spread of unwanted genes in the herd, for example, causing morphological and
physiological defects, and on the other hand, to increase the frequency of desired genes [6]. The
most important components of breeding work are the targeted selection and selection of sheep for
mating, obtaining and raising strong healthy young animals, full feeding, proper maintenance of
adult animals [4; 5; 6].
In modern conditions of progressive technologies, scientists are increasingly performing a
comprehensive assessment of breeding animals using various methods for analyzing the productive
and breeding qualities of animals, using both classical zootechnical methods and more modern ones
[9; ten; eleven].
The breeding methods used in sheep breeding provide an increase in their productivity by
only 1–2% from the level achieved in previous generations, however, they do not always involve
the use of an integral assessment of rams and queens by genotype and by a set of qualitative and
quantitative indicators of their own productivity. The trend in the development of world sheep
breeding and the further intensification of breeding work are aimed at increasing the wool
productivity of sheep and necessitate a comprehensive assessment of sheep, even in industrial
herds, according to the degree of realization of their genetic potential in the context of the main
economic and useful indicators of productivity. In Ukraine, this issue does not lose its relevance,
which aroused our interest in a comprehensive study of the main economically useful traits of sire
rams and their impact on the productivity of offspring.
Literature Review. During the period of early ontogenesis, the growth and development of
the organism and future productivity are formed as a result of the “genotype x environment”
interaction. The impact of the genotype on the growth and development of animals in the Taurian
type of the Ascanian fine-fleece breed depends on the proportion of heredity and economically
useful traits of sire rams used in breeding [10, 11].
N. Papakina & T. Oskirko argue that in the conditions of enterprises, breeding work is
carried out according to the available productivity indicators - formed by the individual phenotype
of animals, and the confirmation of the valuable genotype of producers is the maintenance of their
own high productivity and the manifestation of valuable traits in descendants [12].
V. S. Yakovchuk, & O. M Smorochinsky prove that when selecting sheep for breeding, one
of the main indicators is their live weight, which indicates the full development of animals, and it is
he who is the leading one during the grading of sheep [13].
In breeding work with sheep, much attention is also paid to their growth indicators. So,
according to N.S. Papakina, the growth and development of young animals is an integral part in the
formation of the final productivity of farm animals and poultry. Knowledge of the species, breed
and sex characteristics of these components makes it possible to introduce optimal methods for
managing natural biological processes into production and genetically obtain high productivity of
sheep. Within the same enterprise, as a rule, young animals of different sexes are kept, and
knowledge about sexual relations and the features of the formation of their productivity is the basis
for improving the existing technologies for keeping and caring for young animals [8].
I.A. Hladiy also studied the relationship between animal types and their productivity. This is
the scientist, who found that in terms of growth rates, small animals prevailed over large ones, and
rams of a knocked-down physique, that is, more compact, with a rounded body, prevailed over
stretched ones, with a flatter body [14].
M. Ptáček, J. Ducháček, L. Stádník, & J. Beran studied the characteristics of the growth and
development of young sheep of different sexes, which allowed them to establish patterns of sheep
formation in different age periods in order to use the data obtained to raise animals of the desired
type of constitution and directions of productivity [15].
Particular attention is paid to the study of the relationship between morphofunctional traits
and the correlation analysis of economically useful traits, which makes it possible to establish the
degree of dominant influence of parental organisms on the manifestation of a similar trait in
offspring [9].
 A number of Ukrainian and foreign scientists have proved that sheep breeding is a strategic
sector in the agricultural sector [3; 5; ten]. According to M. Mikhailova et al. and V. Topikha et al.,
the Askani fine-fleeced breed of sheep, unique in its direction and level of productivity,
constitutional features, is of great value in the breeding gene pool of domestic sheep breeding. J. O.
Hampton et al. and M. T. Bastanchury-López et ale., proved that it fully meets the world-class
requirements [16]. O. I Karatieieva, claims that their genotype is used both to create new areas of
sheep breeding, and for crossing in order to increase the level of meat, milk and wool productivity,
accelerate early maturity, improve the quality of meat, wool, skins and fur sheepskins [1]. What is
confirmed in the studies of O.P. Krupa and T.M. Crayfish. V. Chikhirov with a group of authors
proved that the use of Askanian fine-fleeced rams makes it possible to raise domestic sheep
breeding to the world level, and, in turn, refuse to import foreign rams of a similar productivity
direction, which will help to avoid loss of funds and eliminate the difficulties of acclimatization of
imported representatives, which was confirmed by T. I. Nezhlukchenko and others [2; four; eleven].

Material and Methods. The basis for the research was the private enterprise "Agrofirm"
Vasilyevka "of the Mykolaiv region, in the period 2019-2021.
For the study, three groups of sheep were formed, which come from three different rams,
which were compared with each other according to the main economic and useful traits.
At the first stage, the live weight of animals of different sex and age groups and their wool
productivity were subject to research: clean and washed wool shear, clean wool yield, wool length.
Further, within each group, the experimental sheep were divided into sex groups, the rams and
lambs of which were compared with each other and their productive qualities were evaluated
according to the methods generally accepted in zootechnics (Table 1), [17].

Table 1. Scheme of the formation of experimental groups in the conditions

Private enterprise “Agrofirma “Vasilievka”
Experienced group
Ram № 483 Ram № 256 Ram № 628
Ewe lambs lambs Ewe lambs lambs Ewe lambs lambs
16 5 16 5 16 5

Since the assessment by phenotype does not provide complete information about the inheritance of
economically useful traits and does not allow us to identify the best carriers of heredity, we used
correlation analysis with the calculation of relative variability [17].

Statistical data processing was carried out using the Microsoft Excel and Statistica 6.1 software
package according to G.F. Lakin [18].

Results and discussions

Characteristics of the productivity of sheep of the Askanian fine-wool breed
According to the results of the research, out of the total number of sheep, which is kept at
the enterprise, 3 main rams of the producer are used, and 157 ewes, which together act as a kind of
founder of all future generations. These animals have a responsible role, since the genetic potential
of all future descendants will depend on the level of productive and breeding qualities. Therefore, in
order to maximize their genetic potential, the selection of parents is approached very responsibly,
special attention is focused on sires, whose role in this process can be called decisive.
Obtaining high-quality lamb and wool productivity is inextricably linked with the live
weight of the sheep. Therefore, in order to maximize the live weight of sheep and, accordingly, the
level of meat and wool productivity, rams and ewes with the highest indicators are selected. For
sires, on average, it is 118 kg, which is a fairly high indicator for the Askanian fine-wool breed, and
65 kg for a ew, which is also fully consistent with the breed indicator (Table 2). Also, we observed
that the live weight indicator is high not only for adult sheep, but also for other sex and age groups.
So, at a fairly young age, replacement rams reach 88 kg of live weight, which is a very good
indicator, the same can be seen about ewes and overbreds, in which the live weight is at the level of
43 and 50 kg, respectively.

Table 2. Productivity indicators of sheep of the Askanian fine-wool breed

Gender and age group n characteristic
live weight, coat length, unwashed pure fiber clean wool
kg cm wool shear, yield, % shear, kg
kg
rams, total 18 206 19,3 32,4 93,9 14,5
major ram producers 3 118 11,1 18,1 47,4 8,1
repair rams 15 88 8,2 14,3 46,5 6,4
ewe-lambs 87 43 9,5 5,2 45,6 2,2
yearling 39 50 8,1 6,3 44,5 2,6
ewes 157 65 10,3 7,4 44,1 3,3

When selecting parents, attention is paid not only to live weight, but also to wool productivity
indicators, which for the main sires were within the following limits: wool length - 11.1 cm,
unwashed wool shear - 18.1 kg, pure fiber yield - 47 .4%, pure wool shearing - 8.1 kg, and for ewes:
wool length - 10.3 cm, unwashed wool shearing - 7.4 kg, pure fiber yield - 44.1%, pure wool
shearing - 3.3 kg. Both in the case of live weight indicators and wool productivity, full compliance
with breed standards was observed.
In the group of replacement rams and ewes, in terms of wool productivity, compliance with
the breed standards was also noted.
E. Zonabend König, J. M. K. Ojango, J. Audho, T. Mirkena, E. Strandberg, A. M. Okeyo &
J. Philipsson also confirm that meat and wool productivity are the most important traits of sheep
breeding and depend on the quality of the breeding material, then there are ewes and rams-
producers [19].
I. Suprun, A. Getya, V. Fychak, M. Janíček in their studies speak about the high genetic
potential of sheep breeds bred in Ukraine. Observers argue that in the current economic conditions,
sheep breeding remains one of the most promising for development in terms of improving land use
efficiency, employment, providing the processing industry with raw materials, and for the
population - providing food (meat, milk, cheese). When selecting animals for breeding, it is
necessary to pay great attention to sires as carriers of the main heredity [20].
Relative variability of the main traits of selection of replacement young stock of the
Askanian fine-fleece breed.
Many authors point out that in breeding work with individual breeds of sheep, the selection of
animals occurs on the basis of their assessment by phenotype. But assessment by phenotype does
not always make it possible to determine the hereditarily best individuals, since the quantitative
signs of productivity are quite variable and are formed under the influence of the genotype and
environmental conditions [2; eighteen]. Therefore, there is a need to assess the quantitative
characteristics of the young Askanian fine-wool breed, which originated from different sires.
In the course of the experiment, 1 study group of offspring was formed from each sire ram:
ewes and rams, which were studied in terms of changes in live weight at birth and at the age of 4, 6,
8, 12, 15 months (Table 3).
Analyzing the live weight of young animals of the Askanian fine-wool breed, it should be
noted that its highest values at birth were characteristic of young animals obtained from ram No.
483: rams had 5.1±0.12 kg, and ewes - 4.0±0.05 kg, which is significantly higher than the live
weight of rams of the second group 4.6±0.12 and the third 4.4±0.16 Р≤0.01 and Р≤0.001,
respectively. A similar trend in the dynamics of live weight was observed in other age periods. That
is, at the age of 4, 6, 8 months, both the ewes and the rams of group I had a clear advantage.
Analyzing the dynamics of live weight at the older age of 12 and 15 months, we noted a similar
trend. Young animals of the first group were characterized by higher values of live weight
compared to representatives of the II and III groups.
Table 3. Changes in the main economically useful traits of young sheep of the Askanian fine-wool
breed
Group
Age, month Ram № 483 Ram № 256 Ram № 628
Ewe lambs lambs Ewe lambs lambs Ewe lambs lambs
Live weight, kg
At birth 4,0±0,05 5,1±0,12 4,0±0,03 4,6±0,12** 3,6±0,05*** 4,4±0,16**
***
4 27,4±1,18 38,4±1,46 26,4±1,21 36,7±1,89** 25,3±1,37*** 35,7±1,63**
6 36,1±2,61 52,6±3,42 35,3±1,11 51,1±3,47 33,7±2,85 50,5±4,81
8 40,0±3,17 64,0±5,71 39,0±3,14 62,0±4,51 38,6±4,26 61,0±2,86
12 52,9±2,28 83,6±4,51 50,7±6,22 82,1±5,34 49,2±3,20 80,6±5,51
15 56,7±2,26 91,6±7,51 56,0±3,17 90,1±3,33 54,5±2,26 88,8±4,58
Sheared wool, kg
12 7,0±0,59 14,1±0,24 6,4±0,05*** 13,2±0,14** 5,4±0,04*** 12,3±0,09***
Wool length, cm
4 3,9±2,12 5,5±2,14 3,6±1,04 5,0±1,13 3,6±1,64 5,4±1,09
8 6,4±2,13 8,8±3,32 5,4±1,34 8,3±2,30 5,7±2,16 8,4±3,21
12 8,8±4,06 10,8±4,32 7,7±2,12 9,3±3,34 8,2±3,06 10,1±5,29

E. Z. König, T. Mirkena, E. Strandberg, J. Audho, J. Ojango, B. Malmfors, A. M. Okeyo &

Jan Philipsson state that animal live weight data and visually assessed size are the most important
factors in selecting sires for breeding goals. Large body size is an indicator of good growth rates
and is an important feature in breeding [21].
Since wool shearing is directly proportional to the live weight of the animal, when assessing
this trait at the age of 12 months, we noted a similar trend. Namely, the young animals of group I
were characterized by higher values of wool shearing compared to other groups. The ewes had 7.0 ±
0.59 kg of wool, which is probably more than this indicator in the ewes of II - 6.4 ± 0.05 kg (P ≤
0.001) and ІІІ groups - 5.4 ± 0.04 (P ≤ 0.001) . A similar trend was noted in terms of the level of
manifestation of this trait in rams of group I, which probably turned out to be better than analogues
of group II - 13.2±0.14 (P≤0.01) and group III - 12.3±0.09 (P ≤0.001). Characterization of coat
length from 4 months of age to 12 months of age established a similar manifestation of this trait.
That is, the young animals of group I have higher values for the length of wool, in comparison with
the other two groups.
M. A. Snyman, W. J. Olivier also came to the conclusion that economically important signs of
reproduction, growth and wool productivity are in a certain relationship. The better the young
growth grows and develops, the faster it reaches a higher live weight and, as a result, will
subsequently have better indicators of wool productivity [22].
K. A. Ward, J. D. Murray, C. M. Shanahan, N. W. Rigby & C. D. Nancarrow have used
growth hormone to increase wool production in sheep. Phenotypically, such sheep responded to
increased levels of growth hormone by increasing their body growth rate and, as a result, were
noted by an increase in wool productivity [6].
Correlations between economically useful traits are an important element in breeding work;
they represent the interdependence of two or more random variables. Correlative variability is used
when improving a certain trait, since the animal organism is a complex interacting system,
therefore, improving one trait, it inextricably improves and another, or vice versa, a negative impact
on one trait will entail a decrease in others [7, 18].
Therefore, we set a goal to investigate the relative variability between the main breeding traits
in sheep breeding: such traits as live weight, wool shear, wool length.
As can be seen from Table 4, the correlations of the main economically useful traits in the
context of the experimental groups remain at a high level, however, unlike the previous study, there
have been changes in the main economically useful traits. Namely, between the indicators of live
weight and wool shearing, high positive relationships were established in all experimental groups,
regardless of sexual demorphism - 0.641-0.773 for ewes and 0.823-0.914 for the group of rams.
 With the highest values in representatives of group II - 0.773±0.0116 (Р≤0.001) for ewes and
0.914±0.0427 for rams.

Table 4. Correlations between the main economically useful traits of young sheep of the Askanian
fine-wool breed
Correlation features
Group body weight×wool cut wool length×wool cut
Ewe lambs lambs Ewe lambs lambs
Ram № 483 0,695±0,0284 0,881±0,0342 0,892±0,0111 0,968±0,0031
Ram № 256 0,773±0,0116*** 0,914±0,0427 0,919±0,0232 0,723±0,0118***
* *
Ram № 628 0,641±0,0542 0,823±0,0132 0,704±0,0438 0,971±0,0534

In terms of the length and shearing of wool in the context of the experimental groups, we also
found very high correlations for lambs from 0.704 to 0.919, and for rams from 0.723 to 0.971. With the
highest values in the group of yolks in the representatives of group II - 0.919±0.0232, and the lowest in
group III - 0.704±0.0438 (Р≤0.05). For the group of rams, a slightly different trend is noted in terms of
the degree of relative variability between the length and wool shearing. Thus, the best were male
representatives of group III (0.968±0.0031) with the least manifestation in rams of group II -
0.723±0.0118 (Р≤0.001). And among the female representatives, a natural trend was observed, where
the higher values of the relative variability were in the representatives of the II group - 0.919±0.0232,
with the lowest values in the females of the III group - 0.704±0.0438 (Р≤0.05).
A number of scientists from different countries have successfully used correlations when
working with sheep in different areas of productivity. So, P. S. Ostapchuk V. S. Pashtetsky, E. N.
Usmanova, T. A. Kuevda, E. Yu. Zyablitskaya, T. P. Makalish & J. S. Saenko found a positive
correlation between coat fineness and body weight (p≤0.05); between shearing of natural wool and
fine wool (р≤0.05); between natural wool shear and live weight (p≤0.05); between washed wool
and wool fineness (p ≤ 0.05) and sheared natural wool (p ≤ 0.05). And the greatest thickness of the
skin was on the back and lower leg. Scientists also suggest that skin regeneration occurs due to the
cells of the basal layer. This is due to the fact that the thickness of the basal layer decreases in the
following order: lateral-rear-leg-neck, which correlates with the degree of impact of damaging
factors on these areas and the degree of growth of the animal [23].

Assessment of the processes of growth and development of young growth of the Askanian
fine-wool breed, depending on their origin
The data of systematic weighing and measurements characterize the growth rate, which is of
great economic importance, since intensively growing animals spend less nutrients per unit of
growth than slowly growing ones. The growth rate is determined by the absolute and relative
growth rates per day, month, year [4; 17].
The study of changes in the live weight of sheep and the assessment of the level of meat
productivity we want, as well as the genetic characteristics of sheep only by age intervals, are rather
superficial and insufficient. Therefore, live weight is subject to the classical in zootechnics
assessment of live weight gain indicators: absolute, average daily and relative [7; 24; 25].
Therefore, we set the task to investigate the indicators of changes in live weight gains at the
age of 4-, 6-, 8-, 12-, 15 months (Table 5). When analyzing the age dynamics of the growth in live
weight of young animals, it was noted that the highest absolute growth rates were achieved at the
age of 0-4 months for representatives of the 1st study group, for rams the value reaches 33.0 ± 1.65
kg, for ewes 23.6 ± 1 .18 kg. In turn, the indicators exceeded the value of group II - 32.0±1.6 kg and
22.8±1.14 kg, respectively. And group III, for which these indicators were at the level of 31±1.55
kg for rams, and 21.6±1.1 kg for ewes.

Table 5. Age dynamics of live weight gain in young sheep of the Askanian fine-wool breed
Age, Growth
month absolute kg average daily, g relative, %
 Ewe lambs lambs Ewe lambs lambs Ewe lambs lambs
Ram № 483
0-4 23,6±1,18 33,0±1,65 196±0,01 278±0,01 151±7,5 153±7,6
4-6 8,7±0,45 14,1±0,7 145±0,007 237±0,01 27±1,35 31±1,6
6-8 4,4±0,22 11,4±0,57 70±0,004 190±0,01 11±0,5 20±1,0
8-12 12,6±0,63 20,0±1,0 105±0,005 163±0,008 27±1,35 27±1,35
12-15 4,0±0,2 8,1±0,41 41±0,002 89±0,004 7±0,4 9,1±0,5
Ram № 256
0-4 22,8±1,14 32,0±1,6 189±0,01 267±0,01 152±7,6 155±7,6
4-6 8,9±0,44 14,0±0,7 148±0,007*** 239±0,01 29±1,45 33±1,7
6-8 4,0±0,2 11,3±0,6 67±0,003 189±0,009 11±0,5 20±1,0
8-12 11,5±0,57 20,0±1,1 96±0,005 164±0,008 25±1,3 27±1,4
12-15 5,2±0,26 8,0±0,4 58±0,003 72±0,003** 10±0,5 9±0,5
Ram № 628
0-4 21,6±1,1 31,0±1,55 180±0,001*** 261±0,01 150±7,5 157±7,8
4-6 8,5±0,43 15,0±0,8 141±0,007*** 246±0,01 29±1,45 34±1,7
6-8 4,8±0,24 10,3±0,52 81±0,004 172±0,008 14±0,7** 18±0,9
8-12 10,5±0,52 20,0±1,0 88±0,004 165±0,008 24±1,2* 28±1,4
12-15 5±0,25 8,0±0,4 59±0,003 91±0,005 10±0,5*** 10±0,5

As in the age of 0-4 months, and in other age periods, the 1st group remained the leader in
most age intervals in terms of absolute growth. So, she was noted at 8-12 months, with an increase
rate of 12.6 ± 0.63 kg for ewes and 20.0 ± 1.0 kg for rams, where she significantly exceeded others,
in addition, she had the highest growth rate in rams 11.4 ± 0.57 kg at 6-8 months, 8.1 ± 0.41 kg at
12-15 months, and generally proved to be the most stable in terms of indicators in each age period.
In terms of studying the indicators of changes in average daily gains, they had a rather
undulating and unequal nature of dominance, which began to branch out between all the studied
groups, each of which had an advantage in a certain indicator. However, for comparison with the
study of absolute growth, the advantage gradually shifted for this trait from group I to III, which
showed its dominance in almost every category.
The final stage of the study was the study of indicators of the level of relative growth, which
is used to evaluate the economic and biological characteristics of animals, the intensity of
dissimilation processes in the body. For the above indicator, there is a similar situation with the
growth rates studied earlier, where the advantage of groups I and III continued, which shared
leadership in one or another period. However, in this aspect, group I showed absolute dominance in
two sex and age groups, remaining the first in terms of relative growth at the age of 8-12 months
with an indicator of 27 ± 1.35% for ewes (P ≤ 0.05), and 28 ± 1.40% for sheep and in the age period
of 6-8 months.
The third study group turned out to be the best in a number of relative gains in the age period
of 0-4 months. – ♂153±7.6%, 4-6 months. – ♀29±1.45%, ♂34±1.7%, 6-8 months. ♀14±0.7% and
in the age period of 8-12 months. - ♂28±1.4% and 12-15 months. – ♀10±0.5% ♂10±0.5%.
M. C. Gauvin, S. M. Pillai, S. A. Reed, J. R. Stevens, M. L. Hoffman, A. K. Jones, S. A. Zinn,
K. E. Govoni suggest that slow growth and development of young animals can have immediate and
lifelong negative consequences for the formation of an animal as a carrier of breeding and
productive qualities. And this leads to a decrease in quality and an increase in the cost of
production. The authors also argue that limited nutrition or overfeeding slows down muscle growth
and changes metabolism during an intensive period of growth, reduces the number of myogenic
progenitor cells and leads to changes in the global expression of genes involved not only in the
formation of the live weight of the animal, but also in productivity in general [ 24]. This was also
confirmed in the studies of other authors [26].

Conclusions. The main indicators of wool productivity are represented by the shearing of
unwashed wool, the length of wool, the shearing of clean wool and the yield of pure fiber, as well as
the live weight indicators of sheep of different sex and age groups of the Askanian fine-fleeced
breed are within the breed standard. And they testify to sufficient opportunities regarding the
hereditary potential of this herd, which will make it possible to maintain compliance with the breed
type and realize their genetic characteristics.
Among the studied groups, according to the change in the main economically useful traits of
young sheep, it was found that in terms of the level of development of live weight, indicators of
wool productivity, growth and development characteristics, regardless of sexual dimorphism, the
sheep of the first group turned out to be the best, which indicates a high genetic potential of ram No.
483 This will allow using it to increase productivity, improve the quality of wool and reduce the
cost of sheep products.
Analyzing the work done by us, we can conclude that the characteristics of correlations have
established certain patterns depending on the traits of the genotype of the sire. So, according to the
majority of correlations between the main features, the young animals of group II, obtained from
ram No. 256, turned out to be the best.
According to the level of development of absolute, average daily and relative gains, young
animals obtained from representatives of I and III of the study group dominated, showing their
absolute advantage, both in terms of sex and age groups, and in certain age periods.
The prospect of these studies may be the use of modern techniques in the evaluation of sires
to identify the best carriers of the genetic potential.

Список используемых источников

1. Каратєєва О. І. Генетика успадкування забарвлення овець. Молодий вчений. 2015. №. 11
(1). С. 61-64.
2. Крупа О. П., Рак Т. М. Стан вівчарства в Україні та заходи щодо його покращення.
Вісник Полтавської державної аграрної академії. 2020. Вип. 18. С. 110-112.
3. Михайлова М., Шейко Р., Лагун Е., Балашенко Н., Мозгова Г., Островская А. ДНК-
идентификация животных для выявления фальсификаций продуктов питания. Наука и
инновации. 2020. №. 10 (212). С. 40-45. doi.10.29235/1818-9557-2020-10-40-45.
4. Chigiryov V., Besyagina S., Mazhilovskaya K., Tikhonov D. Оцінка основних селекційно-
генетичних ознак продуктивності овець одеського типу асканійської м’ясо-вовнової
породи різних етологічних типів. Аграрний вісник Причорномор’я. 2020. №. 96. С. 90-95.
doi: 10.37000/abbsl.2020.96.11.
5. Топіха В. С., Калиниченко Г. І., Петрова О. І., Кириченко В. А. Тенденції розвитку
селекційної роботи у вівчарстві. Вісник Дніпропетровського державного аграрно-
економічного університету. 2017. Вип. 1. С. 107-110.
6. Ward K. A., Murray J. D., Shanahan C. M., Rigby N. W., Nancarrow C. D. The creation of
transgenic sheep for increased wool productivity. In The Biology of Wool and Hair. 1988. Р.
465-477. Springer, Dordrecht. doi: 10.1007/978-94-011-9702-1_33.
7. Корбич Н. М. Взаємозв’язок довжини вовни з показниками продуктивності овець
таврійського типу асканійської тонкорунної породи. Вісник Полтавської державної
аграрної академії. 2021. Вип. 4. С. 171-177.
8. Папакіна Н. С. Формування продуктивності овець таврійського типу асканійської
тонкорунної породи в залежності від інтенсивності їх росту. Дис. на здобуття наук.
ступеня канд. с.-г. наук : спец. 06.02.01 «Розведення та селекція». 2005. 195 с.
9. Trukhachev V., Oliinyk S., Chernobay E, Antonenko T., Konoplev V. Selected methods of
formation desirable phenotype of different sheep breeds. Njfcongress. 2018. №. 26. Р. 125-129.
10. Hampton J. O., Jones B., McGreevy P. D. Social license and animal welfare: Developments
from the past decade in Australia. Animals. 2020. №. 10(12). Р 2237.
doi.10.3390/ani10122237.
11. Нежлукченко Т. І., Корбич Н. М., Нежлукченко Н. В., Дубинський, О. Л. Тонина вовни
та її взаємозв’язок з показниками продуктивності баранців асканійської тонкорунної
породи таврійського типу. Технологія виробництва і переробки продуктів
тваринництва. 2020 №. 1. Вип. 156. С. 22-28. doi: 10.33245/2310-9270-2020-157-1-22-28.
12. Папакіна Н., Оскирко Т. Стабільність показників вовнової продуктивності овець.
Таврійський науковий вісник. Серія: Сільськогосподарські науки. 2021. Вип. 122. С. 238-
243. doi.10.32851/2226-0099.2021.122.35.
13. Яковчук В. С., Сморочинський О. М. Технология интенсивного выращивания ярок
асканийской тонкорунной породы. Вівчарство та козівництво. 2020. №. 5. С. 152-168.
doi. 10.33694/2415-3958-2020-1-5-152-168.
14. Гладій І. А. Параметри росту і розвитку ягнят різних генотипів на етапі раннього
онтогенезу. Вівчарство та козівництво. 2019. №. 4. С. 92-102.
15. Ptáček M., Ducháček J., Stádník L., Beran J. Mutual relationships among body condition score,
live weight, and back tissue development in meat sheep. Acta Veterinaria Brno. 2014. №.
83(4). doi:10.2754/avb201483040341.
16. Bastanchury-López M. T., De-Pablos-Heredero C., García-Martínez A. R., Martín-Romo-
Romero S. Review of the measurement of dynamic capacities: a proposal of indicators for the
sheep in. Ciencia y Tecnología Agropecuaria. 2019. №. 20(2). Р. 355-386.
doi.10.21930/rcta.vol20num2art:1463.
17. Плохинский Н. А. Наследуемость. Новосибирск: Редакционное обозрение Сибирского
отделения АН СССР. 1964. 194 с.
18. Лакин Г.Ф. Биометрия. М.: Высшее. 1990. 352 с.
19. Zonabend König E., Ojango J. M., Audho J., Mirkena T., Strandberg E., Okeyo A. M.,
Philipsson J. Live weight, conformation, carcass traits and economic values of ram lambs of
Red Maasai and Dorper sheep and their crosses. Tropical Animal Health and Production. 2017.
№. 49(1). С. 121-129. doi.10.1007/s11250-016-1168-5.
20. Suprun I., Getya A., Fychak V., Janíček M. Prospects of use of genetic resources of sheep in
Ukraine. Acta Fytotechnica et Zootechnica. 2021. №. 24(1). Р. 35-43.
doi.10.15414/afz.2021.24.01.35-43.
21. Zonabend König E., Mirkena T., Strandberg E., Audho J., Ojango J., Malmfors B., Philipsson
J. Participatory definition of breeding objectives for sheep breeds under pastoral systems – the
case of Red Maasai and Dorper sheep in Kenya. Tropical Animal Health and Production. 2016.
№. 48(1). Р 9-20. doi.10.1007/s11250-015-0911-7.
22. Snyman M. A., Olivier W. J. Productive performance of hair and wool type Dorper sheep under
extensive conditions. Small Ruminant Research. 2002. №. 45(1). Р. 17-23. doi.10.1016/S0921-
4488(02)00116-5.
23. Ostapchuk P. S., Pashtetsky V. S., Usmanova E. N., Kuevda T. A., Zyablitskaya E. Y.,
Makalish T. P., Saenko J. S. Environment and sheep wool quality indicators. IOP Conference
Series: Earth and Environmental Science. 2022. №. 965(1). article number 012028.
doi:10.1088/1755-1315/965/1/012028.
24. Gauvin M. C., Pillai S. M., Reed S. A., Stevens J. R., Hoffman M. L., Jones A. K.,
Govoni K. E. Poor maternal nutrition during gestation in sheep alters prenatal muscle growth and
development in offspring. Journal of Animal Science. 2020. №. 98(1). Р. 388.
doi.10.1093/jas/skz388.
25. Mueller J. P., Getachew T., Rekik M., Rischkowsky B., Abate Z., Wondim B., Haile A.
Converting multi-trait breeding objectives into operative selection indexes to ensure genetic
gains in low-input sheep and goat breeding programmes. Animal. 2021. №. 15(5), 100198.
doi:10.1016/j.animal.2021.100198.
26. Gizaw S., Getachew T., Tibbo M., Haile A., Dessie T. Congruence between selection on
breeding values and farmers’ selection criteria in sheep breeding under conventional nucleus
breeding schemes. Animal. 2011. №. 5(7), Р. 995-1001. doi:10.1017/S1751731111000024.

References
1. Karatieieva, O.I. (2015). Genetics of seizure of colors of sheep. Young Scientist, (11 (1)), 61-64.
2. Krupa, O.P., Rak, T.M. (2020). The status of sheep-breeding in Ukraine and measures to
improve it. Bulletin of Poltava State Agrarian Academy, 18, 110-112.
3. Mihajlova, M., SHejko, R., Lagun, E., Balashenko, N., Mozgova, G., & Ostrovskaya, A. (2020).
dnk identification of animals to detect food adulteration. Science and Innovation, (10 (212)).
doi:10.29235/1818-9557-2020-10-40-45.
4. Chihirov, V., Besiahina, S., Mazhylovska, K., Tykhonov, D., Chyhyryov, V., Besiahyna, S., &
Tykhonov, D. (2020). Assessment of the main breeding and genetic characters of productivity
of sheep of the odessa type of the askani meat-wool breed of different ethological types.
Agrarian Bulletin of tte Black Sea Littoral, 96, 90-95. doi: 10.37000/abbsl.2020.96.11.
5. Topikha, V.S., Kalynychenko, H.I., Petrova, O.I., & Kyrychenko, V.A. (2017). Developing
tendencies of selection work in sheep breeding. News of Dnipropetrovsk State Agrarian and
Economic University, (1), 107-110.
6. Ward, K.A., Murray, J.D., Shanahan, C.M., Rigby, N.W., & Nancarrow, C.D. (1988). The
creation of transgenic sheep for increased wool productivity. In The Biology of Wool and
Hair (pp. 465-477). Springer, Dordrecht. doi: 10.1007/978-94-011-9702-1_33.
7. Korbych, N.M. (2021). Interdependence of wool length with productivity indicators of tavria
type sheep, askania fine-fleece breed. Bulletin of Poltava State Agrarian Academy, 4, 171-177.
doi: 10.31210/visnyk2021.04.21.
8. Papakina, N.S. (2005). Formation of the productivity of sheep of the Taurian type of the
Askanian fine-wool breed depending on the intensity of their growth. Kherson: Kherson State
Agrarian University.
9. Trukhachev, V., Serhii, O., Eugene, C., Tatiana, A., & Konoplev, V. (2018). Selected methods
of formation desirable phenotype of different sheep breeds. Njfcongress26, 125-129.
10. Hampton, J.O., Jones, B., & McGreevy, P.D. (2020). Social license and animal welfare:
Developments from the past decade in Australia. Animals, 10(12), 2237. doi:
10.3390/ani10122237.
11. Nezhlukchenko, T., Korbich, N., Nezhlukchenko, N., & Dubinsky, O. (2020). The untrue
wooland its relationship with productivity indicators of taurictailed lambs of the ascanian fi nefl
eece breed. Tehnologìâ Virobnictva ì Pererobki Produktìv Tvarinnictva, Technology of
production and processing of animal husbandry products (1(156)), 22-28. doi: 10.33245/2310-
9270-2020-157-1-22-28.
12. Papakina, N., & Oskyrko, T. (2021). Stability of wool productivity indicators of sheep. Taurida
Scientific Herald. Series: Rural Sciences, 122, 238-243. doi: 10.32851/2226-0099.2021.122.35.
13. Yakovchuk, V. S., & Smorochynskyi, O. M. (2020). The ascanian fine-fleeced breed ewe's
lambs intensive growing technology. Sheep and Goat Breeding, (5), 152-168. doi:
10.33694/2415-3958-2020-1-5-152-168
14. Gladij, I. A. (2019). The growth and development parameters the lambs of different genotypes
in the early ontogenesis stage. Sheep and Goat Breeding, (4), 92-102.
15. Ptáček, M., Ducháček, J., Stádník, L., & Beran, J. (2014). Mutual relationships among body
condition score, live weight, and back tissue development in meat sheep. Acta Veterinaria
Brno, 83(4). doi:10.2754/avb201483040341.
16. Bastanchury-López, M. T., De-Pablos-Heredero, C., García-Martínez, A. R., & Martín-Romo-
Romero, S. (2019). Review of the measurement of dynamic capacities: a proposal of indicators
for the sheep in. Ciencia y Tecnología Agropecuaria, 20(2), 355-386.
doi.10.21930/rcta.vol20num2art:1463.
17. Plohinskij, N. A. (1964). Heritability. Novosibirsk: Editorial review of the Siberian branch of
the Academy of Sciences of the USSR. Sc., 194.
18. Lakin, G.F. (1990). Biometrics. M.: Higher. Sc., 352.
19. Zonabend König, E., Ojango, J. M., Audho, J., Mirkena, T., Strandberg, E., Okeyo, A. M., &
Philipsson, J. (2017). Live weight, conformation, carcass traits and economic values of ram
lambs of Red Maasai and Dorper sheep and their crosses. Tropical Animal Health and
Production, 49(1), 121-129. doi:10.1007/s11250-016-1168-5.
20. Suprun, I., Getya, A., Fychak, V., & Janíček, M. (2021). Prospects of use of genetic resources of
sheep in Ukraine. Acta Fytotechnica et Zootechnica, 24(1), 35-43. doi:
10.15414/afz.2021.24.01.35-43.
21. Zonabend König, E., Mirkena, T., Strandberg, E., Audho, J., Ojango, J., Malmfors, B., &
Philipsson, J. (2016). Participatory definition of breeding objectives for sheep breeds under
pastoral systems – the case of Red Maasai and Dorper sheep in Kenya. Tropical Animal Health
and Production, 48(1), 9-20. doi: 10.1007/s11250-015-0911-7.
22. Snyman, M. A., & Olivier, W. J. (2002). Productive performance of hair and wool type Dorper
sheep under extensive conditions. Small Ruminant Research, 45(1), 17-23. doi: 10.1016/S0921-
4488(02)00116-5.
23. Ostapchuk, P.S., Pashtetsky, V. S., Usmanova, E. N., Kuevda, T. A., Zyablitskaya, E. Y.,
Makalish, T. P., & Saenko, J. S. (2022). Environment and sheep wool quality indicators. IOP
Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 965(1), article number 012028. doi:
10.1088/1755-1315/965/1/012028.
24. Gauvin, M. C., Pillai, S. M., Reed, S. A., Stevens, J. R., Hoffman, M. L., Jones, A. K., &
Govoni, K. E. (2020). Poor maternal nutrition during gestation in sheep alters prenatal muscle
growth and development in offspring. Journal of Animal Science, 98(1), skz388.
doi.10.1093/jas/skz388.
25. Mueller, J. P., Getachew, T., Rekik, M., Rischkowsky, B., Abate, Z., Wondim, B., & Haile, A.
(2021). Converting multi-trait breeding objectives into operative selection indexes to ensure
genetic gains in low-input sheep and goat breeding programmes. Animal, 15(5), 100198. doi:
10.1016/j.animal.2021.100198.
26. Gizaw, S., Getachew, T., Tibbo, M., Haile, A., & Dessie, T. (2011). Congruence between
selection on breeding values and farmers’ selection criteria in sheep breeding under
conventional nucleus breeding schemes. Animal, 5(7), 995-1001. doi:
10.1017/S1751731111000024.