Breed-specific features of mineral element content in the wool of ewe lambs depending on different natural and climatic zones of their keeping

N.P. Stakhiv¹*, P.V. Stapai¹,O. V. Kovtun¹, T.V. Buslyk¹, I.V. Nevostruieva¹, V.V. Mykytiuk², A.V. Skorokhid¹
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¹Institute of Animal Biology NAAS, 38 Vasylya Stusa str., Lviv, 79034, Ukraine
²Dnipro Agrarian and Economic University, 25 Serhiya Yefremova str., Dnipro, 49009, Ukraine

The aim of the study was to determine the content of macro- and microelements (Calcium, Magnesium, Iron, Zinc, Copper, Cobalt, Manganese, Cadmium, and Lead) in the wool of ewe lambs of different breeds, grown during the spring–summer–autumn periods and kept in various natural and climatic zones of Ukraine. Wool samples were collected from the area behind the scapula. Mineral elements were determined using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer C-115 PK (Ukraine). No clearly expressed differences indicating breed-specific features of calcium content in the wool of ewe lambs were found. Regarding magnesium, although the amplitude of its content variations among different breeds was quite high (7.3-fold), certain breed-specific traits were observed. Specifically, the highest values were recorded in coarse wool, lower in semi-fine, and the lowest in fine wool. Among all the studied microelements, zinc was found in the highest concentration in wool, though its content showed considerable variability. While no breed-specific features were identified for zinc, zonal differences were observed: the lowest zinc content was found in fine-wool sheep from the Southern Steppe zone, and the highest — in those from the Polissia zone. Among all studied elements, iron proved to be the least variable (a difference of only 2.2-fold). No significant inter-breed or zonal differences in its content were identified, which may indicate a sufficient supply of this element in soil and feed. The amount of copper in the wool varied. The highest levels were recorded in wool from OLIBS sheep, and the lowest — in Askanian fine-wool sheep. The average manganese content in wool was 2.95 mg/kg; however, in Karakul sheep (Bukovynian type) it was several times higher, while in Askanian fine-wool sheep it was the lowest. The average lead content was 2.91 mg/kg, with the highest values observed in the wool of Karakul sheep — 4.60 and 3.94 mg/kg, respectively, in the Bukovynian and Askanian prolific types. Cadmium was the least abundant element in sheep wool among all those studied, with an average content of only 0.18 mg/kg. The highest values were found in Karakul sheep (Bukovynian type) — 0.41 mg/kg, and the lowest — in OLIBS sheep — 0.06 mg/kg.

Keywords: sheep, ewe lambs, breed, wool, macroelements, microelements, natural and climatic zones