Greasy fleece weight and live weight performances of the Kaçeli sheep breed under conservation

Objective: This study evaluated the greasy fleece weight (GFW) and shearing live weight at shearing (SLW) of the Kaçeli sheep breed conserved under Türkiye’s National Animal Genetic Resources Conservation Program.Materials and Methods: The animal material for this study consisted of 291 Kaçeli sheep (283 females and 8 males) raised under semi-intensive conditions on the Çeşme Peninsula. The animals ranged in age from 2 to 7 years. Dirty fleece weights were recorded during shearing in May, and live weights at shearing were measured using digital scales. Due to the small sample size and physiological differences in males, ram data were evaluated only descriptively and were excluded from statistical models. Descriptive statistics, general linear models, least squares means, and phenotypic correlation analyses were performed on the ewe data using SAS software. Farm, age, and live weight were included as fixed effects in the models, and between-group differences were determined using the Duncan Multiple Range Test.Results: Mean GFW was 1.70 kg in rams and 1.26 kg in ewes, while mean SLW was 57.61 kg and 41.40 kg, respectively. Farm effects were significant; Farm 2 showed the highest SLW (45.38 kg). Each 1 kg increase in SLW resulted in a 0.020 kg rise in GFW. Age negatively affected GFW (–0.046) but positively influenced SLW (1.112).Conclusion: Kaçeli sheep display moderate productivity, broad phenotypic diversity, and strong adaptability, providing key data for sustainable breeding and conservation strategies.