Comparison of Fiber and Wool Follicles Characteristics of Chios, ArkhaMerino×Moghani and Suffolk×Moghani Sheep

This research was conducted to compare fiber and follicle characteristics of Chios, ArkhaMerino×Moghani, and Suffolk×Moghani sheep. forty non-lactating ewes (16 heads of Chios, 12 head ArkhaMerino×Moghani, and 12 heads of Suffolk×Moghani) at the age of 22 months were randomly selected and kept for a period of 50 days. At the end of the experimental period, 50 grams of wool was collected from left midside of a sheep to assess the fiber characteristics. A skin sample from right midside of all the sheep was taken to evaluate the follicle characteristics. Results indicated that efficiency, staple length and percentage of medullated fibers in Suffolk×Moghani sheep were significantly (P<0.01) higher than those in Chios and ArkhaMerino×Moghani. Fiber diameter in ArkhaMerino×Moghani sheep was significantly (P<0.01) less than that in Chios and Suffolk×Moghani. Diameter coefficient variation in Chios sheep was significantly (P<0.01) higher than that in Suffolk×Moghani and ArkhaMerino×Moghani. Percentage of true wool fibers in ArkhaMerino×Moghani sheep was significantly (P<0.01) higher than those in Chios and Suffolk×Moghani. Percentage of kemp fibers in Chios sheep was significantly (P<0.01) higher than those in Suffolk×Moghani and ArkhaMerino×Moghani. There were no significant differences observed in primary follicle density, secondary to primary follicles ratio and percent of inactive follicles among the sheep. Total and secondary follicle densities in ArkhaMerino×Moghani sheep were significantly (P<0.01) higher than those in Chios and Suffolk×Moghani.