Comparative exterior measures of pramenka sheep raised in three localities in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

The aim of the research was to measure the basic external characteristics of Pramenka sheep (ridge height, from the ground to the highest ridge point, lower back height, from the ground to the highest lower back point, hull lenght, chest width, chest depth, chest circumference, hull circumference, shin circumference, body weight) with the aim of comparing the measured values in order to asses the impact of breeding areas on them. Domestic kind Pramenka (Kupres strain, Vlašić strain) were used in this research. There were 36 sheeps in the experimental group, and the same number in the control group. Experimets were performed on long-term  purebred herds of Pramenka on three private farms in the Una-Sana Canton, 2 municipilities of Cazin, 1 municipality of Bihać, as well as on one private farm in Central Bosnia (area of the municipality of Travnik), and one in the municipality of Kupres (Livno Canton). Based on the presented average values of the external properties of Pramenka sheep and their variations for all examined localities, we can conclude the following: that the sheep are longer in relation to their height and that the Pramenka is of medium physical development, that the differences in body measures in the examined areas are greatly influenced by the origin of certain breeds of Pramenka sheep (Kupres strain, Vlašić strain), as well as the quality of pastures and unequal access to food. By comparing our results with the results of other authors who examined the exterior of other strains of Pramenka (from region in Croatia: Rab, Lika, Pag, Istria) in our wider enviroment concluded that Vlašić Pramenka is the largest strain of Pramenka in this area.