Effect of the level of energy and protein nutrition on wool productivity and quality of Darvaz fine-fleece sheep
The article presents the results of two scientific and economic experiments to study the effect of different levels of energy and protein nutrition on wool productivity and physico-mechanical parameters of the wool of Darvaz fine-fleece ewes with year-round distant pasture content. Different levels of energy and nutrients in the pasture diet were regulated by reducing and increasing the amount of hay and barley. It was established that the low productivity and nutrition of autumn-winter-spring pastures, theinsufficient level of supply of sheep with energy and nutrients leads to the fact that sheep are in dire need of feeding with fodder, providing a feeding level of 15 - 25 % higher than existing norms. Based on the studies, it was found that an increase in the level of energy and protein nutrition of Darvaz fine-fleeced ewes by 15 - 25 % compared with the norm makes it possible to better realize the genetic potential of their wool productivity: hair cut in physical mass increases by 0.35 - 0.46 kg or 9.3 - 11.6 %; sheared washed wool - 0.21 - 0.28 kg or 10.4 - 13.5 %; the yield of pure wool is 0.55 - 0.89 %. The ewes, the feeding level of which corresponded to the norm, exceeded the animals that received the ration by 6.78 - 7.34% by shearing of unwashed wool. The level of energy and protein nutrition increased by 15 - 25 % also contributes to the improvement of the physicomechanical properties of the sheep’s hair: the length of the hair is 0.50 - 0.68 cm (6.1 - 8.1 %); wool fineness - by 0.63 - 1.18 microns or 2.5 - 4.8%; wool strength - by 0.75 - 0.91 cN/tex or 8.8 - 10.4 %.