Comparison of wool characteristics of Arkhamerino×Ghezel and Arkhamerino×Moghani sheep crossbreds with their parents

Crossbreeding of indigenous breeds of sheep with exotic fine wool breeds is one of the methods in achieving rapid improvement in wool quality. This study was conducted to compare the wool characteristics of Arkhamerino×Ghezel (ARG) and Arkhamerino×Moghani (ARM) half-breds with their parents. Arkhamerino (AR), 5 Ghezel (G) and 6 Moghani (M) sheep were crossed during 999-00 and samples were collected from right body midside of 9-5 month-old half-breds. Fiber diameter (FD), Variability of fiber diameter (CVf), staple length (SL), kemp (KP) and Modullated fibers (MP) were assessed in samples. AR sheep produced significantly higher quality wool (P<0.0). Also both half-breds significantly produced finer wool than their Iranian parents (P<0.0). M sheep had significant higher CVf (P<0.0). The SL of half-breds was similar to their Iranian parents and they had higher SL than AR parent (P<0.0). KP of both half-breds dramatically decreased in comparison to native sheep and ARM had lower MP than M sheep (P<0.0). In conclusions, wool quality of half-breds was better than Iranian native parents.