Morphometric Analysis of the Mandible of Tuj and Morkaraman Sheep

In the present study, it was aimed to determine morphometric differences of the mandible of Tuj and Morkaraman sheep having widespread breeding area in the Eastern Anatolia Region. In this study, 20 mandibles of the male Tuj and Morkara- man sheep were used. The 16- lenghts taken to the mandible were measured by electronic digital calliper. Furthermore, after the mandible were photographed and printed to milimetric paper, the 4-angles studied were measured with gonimeter. The results of this study proved that the means of the length and angle measurements obtained from Morkaraman sheep were mostly higher than Tuj sheep. The angle of margo ventralis mandibulae (A4) and the mandible height at the level of the rear alveolar edge with 3rd molar tooth (L14) had a significant statistical difference (p<0.05). According to the correlation values, it was seen that A2 values (the angle between the proc. condylaris and ramus mandibulae) of the both sheep breeds were in negative relation with the other mandible measurements. As a result, the obtained data indicate that genetic doesn't significantly affect the morphometry of the mandible of the Morkaraman and Tuj sheeps.