Two clear different wool phenotypes in White Majorcan ovine breed

Abstract

This study characterised two different phenotypes of the White Majorcan ovine breed, a local indigenous breed restricted to Balearic Islands. For this purpose, 20 different adult animals from phenotype "rasa" (short wooled) and "ble" (long wooled) were studied. Each sample was analysed for wool yield, fibre diameter (finesse), fibre curvature, % medullation, % kemp, F30 (percentage of fibres with a diameter < 30 µ), length of short and long fibres, and crimp, as well as wool weight, body weight and wool yield. Two phenotypes were clearly differentiated and significantly different, except for body weight, which would correspond to the "lowland" and "highland" strains described by some authors. According to the bibliography, the long wooled phenotype, which is probably the highland strain, could be considered as the oldest.