A comparison of phenotypic performance of wool physical properties in Awassi ewes

Abstract

Data from two different animal stations were recorded on two flocks of Awassi ewes. Data were analyzed for two productive seasons 2010 and 2011 years to estimate wool yield, Physical Properties and the phenotypic relationships between them. The results revealed a highly significant effects (P≤ 0.01) for the flock on all wool properties except for fiber diameter (FD). and a highly significant effects (P≤ 0.01) for year on clean fleece weight (CFW) and clean wool (CW), and a significant effect (P≤ 0.05) on vegetable matter (VM) and (FD). Interaction of flock × year had a highly significant effect (P≤ 0.01) on (CFW), (CW) and (VM), and a significant effect (P≤ 0.05) on greasy fleece weight, staple length (SL), fiber length (FL) and (FD). Phenotypic correlation between wool traits in both flocks were mostly highly significant (P≤ 0.01) between positive and negative ranged from -0.200 and 0.490, -0.203 and 0.498 for the correlation between (CW) and (VM), and between (SL) and (FL) respectively. With a significant correlation (P≤ 0.05) -0.113 and 0.098, -0.155 and 0.099 between (VM) and (FD), (CFW) and (FD) respectively. While the rest were non significant.