A NOTE ON EFFECT OF DOCKING ON SKIN STRUCTURE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FLEECE IN RAHMANI FAT-TAILED SHEEP

The histological characteristics of the skin of docked and undocked fat-tailed sheep were studied at 15-day intervals between birth and 90 days of age, then every 30 days until 180 days and every 3 months until 1 year of age. Data presented in this paper were recorded at birth, 30, 60, 120, 180 and 360 days of age. The fleece characteristics were studied at 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 years of age. The skin structure was similar in docked and undocked Rahmani sheep and did not differ from that of other breeds of sheep. The effect of docking was significant at most ages of the study on internal diameter of primary follicles and on the external and internal diameters of secondary and on average diameters of wool follicles (P < 0.05). The effect of docking was highly significant on each of staple length and wool diameter.