An Assessment of Omani Native Sheep FiberProduction and Quality Characteristics

Wool production and quality measurements were carried out on 100 Omani native female sheep (body weight 38.6 ± 5.5 kg;;age 993 ± 488 d). Sheep were kept in partially shaded pens and fed ad libitum Rhodes grass hay (crude protein 8.83%) plus a daily amountof 200 g general ruminant concentrate (crude protein 16.5% DM). Animals were shorn once a year and samples were taken from the leftmid-­side site to determine fleece and fiber characteristics. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to study the fine appearanceof the wool fibers. A skin sample was used to study the histological arrangement and number of secondary and primary follicles. The greasyfleece weight (GFW) in Omani sheep ranged between 0.50-­ 2.65 kg (mean 1.12 ± 0.43 kg) and the GFW expressed as a percentage of BWranged between 1.0-­7.6 with a mean of 2.9 ± 1.16. Clean wool yield in Omani sheep fleece ranged between 57.1 and 88.4% with a mean of76.4 ± 7.6. Omani sheep fleece contained various staple shapes and had a mean staple length of 22.9 ± 1.16 cm, 4.3 ± 0.8 crimps per staple;;and a mean fiber diameter of 46 ± 12 μm. Electron microscopy revealed three types of fibers;; wrap-­around, angled type and polygonaland elongated scales. This study indicated a wide variation in the wool characteristics of Omani native sheep fleece, which suggested thatselection may be employed to improve wool production and quality in these sheep.