Karacabey Merino (Turkish Merino)

Karacabey Merinos, also known as Turkish Merinos, is a sheep breed developed in Türkiye for both meat and wool production. Breeding efforts began in 1933 as part of a project initiated to meet the high-quality wool needs of Türkiye’s textile industry. In 1935, German Meat Merino rams were introduced to the Karacabey State Farm in Bursa and crossed with local Kıvırcık ewes. The backcrossing method was employed, and the breed type was stabilized after the fifth backcross. The resulting Karacabey Merinos is reported to have approximately 95% German Meat Merino and 5% Kıvırcık genetic composition.

Karacabey Merinos. (Meat and Dairy Corporation)

Origin and Development

Breeding of the Karacabey Merinos began in 1933 at the Karacabey State Farm. The breed was created through crossbreeding between German Meat Merino rams and Kıvırcık ewes. The backcrossing method was used, and the breed type was fixed after the fifth backcross. The Karacabey Merinos is reported to have approximately 95% German Meat Merino and 5% Kıvırcık genetic composition.

Physical Characteristics

The Karacabey Merinos has a white body, head, and legs. Rams are typically horned, while ewes are polled. Their wool is fine and uniform. They possess a thin, long tail.

Productivity and Traits

• Fertility: The least squares mean for fertility is reported as 0.904. Ewes exhibit estrus for 9 to 10 months per year, making them suitable for twice-yearly lambing.
• Lamb Number:
• • The least squares mean for number of lambs born per ewe (LSB) is recorded at 1.422 lambs. Other studies report average lamb numbers of 1.33, 1.17, 1.29, and 1.20 for elite and base flocks respectively.
  • The least squares mean for number of lambs weaned per ewe (LSW) is reported as 1.358.
  • The average number of lambs per lambing is also reported as 1.5.
• Lifetime Production: Over four lambing periods, the total number of lambs born per ewe (TLB) is 5.48 and the total number of lambs weaned per ewe (TLW) is 5.25.
• Live Weight:
• • Adult live weight ranges from 60 to 90 kg.
  • Lamb birth weight is reported at 4.5 to 5 kg. Studies report least squares means for lamb birth weight in breeding and base flocks as 3.51 kg, 3.58 kg, 3.70 kg, and 3.95 kg respectively.
  • The least squares means for live weight at 45 days of age in breeding and base flocks are 15.05 kg, 14.75 kg, 15.71 kg, and 16.53 kg respectively.
  • The least squares means for live weight at 90 days of age in breeding and base flocks are 28.03 kg, 26.53 kg, 26.31 kg, and 27.65 kg respectively. The overall average live weight at 90 days is reported as 27.13 kg.
• Lamb Weight at Birth and Weaning:
• • The least squares mean for lamb weight at birth (LWB) is 6.689 kg.
  • The least squares mean for lamb weight at weaning (LWW) is 41.577 kg.
  • Over four lambing periods, the total birth weight of lambs per ewe (TWB) is 25.61 kg and the total weaned weight of lambs per ewe (TWW) is 162.47 kg.
• Average Daily Gain:
• • The average daily live weight gain of Karacabey Merinos lambs from birth to 45 days is calculated at 246.48 g.
  • The average daily live weight gain from birth to 90 days is calculated at 273.36 g.
• Milk Yield:
• • Lactation milk yield is reported at 70 to 80 liters.
  • Lactation length is approximately 140 days.
• Wool Yield:
• • Greasy wool weight ranges from 3.9 to 4.5 kg.
  • Clean wool percentage is between 48% and 54%.

Factors Affecting Productivity

Research has shown that several factors significantly influence reproductive traits in Karacabey Merinos sheep. Lambing year and ewe age have had significant effects on fertility, number of lambs born (LSB), number of lambs weaned (LSW), lamb birth weight (LWB), and weaning weight (LWW). Studies on the Karacabey Merinos have also demonstrated that flock and birth year significantly affect lamb number. Factors such as flock, birth year, lamb sex, and birth type have been found to significantly influence lamb birth weight, live weight at 45 days, and live weight at 90 days. Similarly, average daily gain between birth and 45 or 90 days is affected by flock, birth year, sex, and birth type.

Data on these parameters were collected through projects involving breeding and base flocks in regions such as Balıkesir, Sındırgı, and Bigadiç, as well as from institutions such as the Marmara Livestock Research Institute.