Morphological, physical and elemental examination of menemen sheep wool

This study was carried out on a Menemen sheep flock belongs to a private farm located in the district of Karacaören, Şuhut in Afyonkarahisar. A total of 120 sheep composed of 20 heads of 6 month age lambs, 20 heads of 1-1,5, 20 heads of 2-2,5, 20 heads of 3-3,5, 20 heads of 4-4,5 and 20 heads of 5+ year age ewes were used in the study. In total, 354 fleece samples from the shoulder, rib and leg regions of 118 sheep were examined.Clean fleece percentage, fineness, length, elasticity and strength parameters, SEM images as well as elemental analyses via SEM-EDX, XPS and ICP-OES of Menemen sheep fleece were examined.The results for greasy fleece weight, post-shearing live weight, clean fleece percentage, fineness, length, elasticity and strength were 1583,78 g, 51,68 kg, 66,78%, 30,91 µ, 36,35 mm, % 32,60 ve 20,69 cN/tex, respectively in 1.5+ aged Menemen ewes.The effects of age and body region were found to be significant on clean fleece percentage in this study. Effect of age was higher between these two parameters. Regarding the effects of age and body region on fineness, both parameters had significant effect in which the effect of the body region was superior. Age and body region determined to have equal effects on fiber length. In terms of the effects on elasticity and strength, only the effect of age was found to be significant. No effects of age x body region interaction were found on any of the wool fiber characteristics.Mean values of elemental analyses by ICP-OES method for calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), ferrous (Fe), aluminum (Al), silicon (Si), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), cupper (Cu), cobalt (Co), phosphorus (P) and selenium (Se) were % 0,244±0,006, % 0,130±0,008, 353,863±13,369 mg/kg, 633,743±65,295 mg/kg, 46,323±7,847 mg/kg, 45,054±7,132 mg/kg, 152, 630±17,626 mg/kg, 3,970±0,318 mg/kg, 92,690±2,073 mg/kg, 1,959±0,364 mg/kg, 5,626±0,289 mg/kg, 0,120±0,010 mg/kg, 150,033±3,728 mg/kg, 0,070±0,013 mg/kg, respectively in Menemen wool fibers.When SEM images of Menemen sheep fleece were examined it was observed that the surface was formed by the properly ranked scales of cuticle cells and the shape of the cells was determied as multi-sided coronal type.Elemental composition of fleece has a special importance in terms of reflecting the body mineral content as well as plays an indicator role for animal welfare. Since studies towards examination of fleece elemental concentrations are quite few, it is expected that this study will fulfill this lack and provide useful information to the field.Menemen sheep fleece sortiment was determined as 50?S-56?S in terms of Bradford classification system while it was between B and C in terms of German classification system on the base of fineness. It was also considered in the broadcloth fleece group in terms of German System on the base of length. When all the properties are considered, it could be said that Menemen Sheep fleece is ideal for carpet production.Keywords: Menemen sheep, SEM-EDX, ICP-OES, XPS, fleece quality