THE QUALITY OF SHEEPSKIN AND HISTOLOGICAL STRUCTURE OF DORPER SHEEPSKIN
The research explores the qualitative parameters of sheepskin and histological structure of Kalmyk lambs skin and cross breeds obtained when crossing Kalmyk lambs and Dorper sheepskinned lambs. Scientific and production experience was conducted at “Agrofirma Aduciya” enterprise in the Republic of Kalmykia in 2018. The authors explored sheepskin commodity properties at the histological level was conducted on the lambs after fattening at the age of 6 months. According to the area of sheepskin, the crossbred lambs of the 2nd (experimental) group surpassed the lambs od the 1st (control) group by 11.08 dm2 (or 11.8%). This difference is explained by higher fattening qualities of the weighed young stock, which have shorter length and wider width of sheepskin. This is explained by the blackness of the animal’s body after fattening. The lambs of the control group had more developed epidermis, a reticular layer and a larger skin thickness, which is characteristic of rough-wool sheep breeds. The lambs of the experimental group have more developed pilar layer, which is typical for the cattle with semi-fine and thin woolen assortments. The density of wool follicles in the crossbred lambs was 3.3% higher in comparison with the control group lambs; the density index (the ratio of secondary to primary follicles) was 12.7% higher. The lambs of the control group have 44th quality wool (39.65 mkm), it has down, crossing hair, beard hair, i.e. rough wool; the crossing lambs of the experimental group have 56th quality wool (29.25 µm), i.e. semi-fine wool. The sheepskin products with softer pile will cost higher.