<b>GENETIC BASIS OF INHERITANCE AND VARIABILITY OF HAIR LENGTH OF KARAKUL LAMBS</b>

This article presents the results of a study of the patterns of inheritance and variability of hair length in Karakul lambs. The hair length trait in Karakul lambs at birth is the leading and determining indicator of the properties of Karakul sheepskin; it characterizes the genotypic and phenotypic characteristics of Karakul sheep; Many qualitative indicators of karakul wool depend on it, including the shape of the curls, their length, width and density, the pattern of the wool, its shine, silkiness, etc. For the effective use of this trait in selection, it is necessary to take it into account when grading lambs by measuring the hair length of breeding animals on the sacrum as the main and most valuable part of the karakul wool. The data obtained on hair length are processed using well-known mathematical methods and serve as an objective indicator of the results of selection, objectively characterizing the genotype of the animal and largely eliminating subjectivity in the phenotypic characterization of sheep and the quality of fur products. The results of our research also allow us to preliminarily determine what hair length should be on the best musk sheep and high-quality lambs at birth. This is necessary for a more complete characterization of animals and the development of an objective standard for the breed and its types. Such research will broaden our understanding of the qualitative characteristics of flocks, supplement their description with hair length, and allow us to identify farms where flocks are distinguished by short hair cover, as well as those where long hair on the fleece is a characteristic feature. Understanding the patterns of hair length variability in Karakul lambs will be an important step towards further revealing the specifics of the smushok formation process