Morphometric characterization and body development indices of krivovir pramenka

Abstract

The Krivovir pramenka was created by crossing silk-fleece rams from Asia with local sheep. During World War II, it was crossed with Merino rams used for meat production, while pure breed breeding for the purpose of preservation of this indigenous population, started at the end of the 20th century. It is reared in eastern Serbia, more precisely in the area of the Crna Reka basin, which is bordered by the mountains Rtanj, Čestobrodica and Kučaj. The effective size of this population today is 315 heads, which makes it a potentially endangered population. The first step in the preservation of this breed is determining the morphometric characteristics of the animals. The objective of the present study is to determine the phenotypic parameters of the Krivovir pramenka as well as their indices, which would ultimately contribute to its preservation, sustainable use, and improvement through selection work methods. Morphometric tests were performed on 30 sheep, aged 3 years, reared in the area of Stara planina in semi-extensive conditions. The diet was traditional, pasture and hay with the addition of corn in the winter period. The variability of the morphometric parameters was determined using Lidtin stick and ribbon. The following exterior body measurements were determined: height to withers, body length, chest width, chest depth, tail length, chest circumference, pelvis width, shin circumference, head length, head width, earslength, neck girth, height of the back and height of the pelvis. Indices of body development are calculated values, expressed in percentages, and represent the ratio of the absolute values of the measurement in relation to another body measurement. The descriptive statistical procedure was performed using the statistical package STATISTICA (version 8). The average height to withers of the sheep was 62.35 cm, body length 70.14 cm, chest width 16.60 cm, chest depth 26.57 cm, chest circumference 92.82 cm and shin circumference 7.94 cm. Krivovir Pramenka had a higher index of format, body compactness, massiveness and leg length, compared to sheep of Pirot and Travnik Pramenka breed and Vitorog Žuja breed sheep. By comparing the results of this study with the results of earlier research conducted on this sheep strain, the conclusion is that the Krivovir sheep today is slightly larger, longer, with a stronger skeleton, which may be a consequence of changed management.