Аңдатпа
Abstract The present study investigates the breeding status of populations of Kazakh intra-breed sur Karakul sheep and the inheritance of selection traits associated with platinum coloration. Based on these findings, methods of index-based selection were developed, particularly for colored Karakul sheep in the Atyrau region. This article presents the results of research aimed at improving breeding methods for Kazakh intra-breed sur Karakul sheep by reducing piebaldness and enhancing the lightness and uniformity of platinum coloration through the selection of animals with a proportion of down fibers below 25%, as well as by increasing coloration intensity. The objective of this study was to assess the breeding status of populations of Kazakh intra-breed sur Karakul sheep and to investigate the inheritance of traits associated with platinum coloration in order to develop index-based selection methods. The research methodology involved the analysis of pigment distribution at the tips of wool fibers in selected rams exhibiting platinum coloration. As a result, index-based parameters for selection and mating were established, enabling an increase in the genetic potential of colored Karakul sheep. Analysis of graphical data indicates that the degree of uniform coloration is inherited relatively consistently, ranging from 66.04% to 87.27% (t = 14.35-27.44). Among the groups studied, the highest heritability was observed in animals of the third group (87.27%), exceeding that of the second group by 8.84% (78.43%) and the first group by 21.23% (66.04%) (P > 0.05). A lower proportion of individuals with non-uniform coloration was observed in the offspring of animals from the third group, while the highest proportion of undesirable individuals was recorded in rams of the same group (36.77%). The heritability of sharply contrasted color transitions was also high, ranging from 63.21% to 79.0% (t = 13.05-20.36). The maximum value (79.0%) was observed in the offspring of the third group, exceeding that of the second group by 7.43% (71.57%) and the first group by 15.77% (P > 0.05). The highest proportion of lambs with undesirable blurred contrast transitions was recorded in the offspring of third-group rams (36.79%), whereas the lowest value (20.9%) was observed in the same group (P < 0.05). The proposed methodological developments allow for the determination of index parameters for platinum coloration.