ABSTRACT
In this study, fleece samples from a flock of Menemen sheep belong to a private enterprise were taken, and only the surface topography of the SEM and the fleece were examined. According to this examination, it was tried to find out what kind and how much elements exist within the fleece. This was tried to be determined through the SEM-EDX, XPS and ICP-OES analysis. The examined SEM images of Menemen sheep fleece seen that the cuticle surface was composed of scales shaped by the properly sorted cuticular cells and the cuticle cells were in the polygonal coronoid shape.
According to the analysis performed by ICP-OES method, it was found that the mean values of elements in the Menemen sheep fleece were respectively; Ca, 0.244 ± 0.006%; Na, 0.130% ± 0.008; Mg, 353.863 ± 13.369 mg/kg; K, 633.743 ± 65.295 mg/kg; Fe, 46.323 ± 7.847 mg/kg; Al, 45.054 ± 7.132 mg/kg; Si, 152.630 ± 17.626 mg/kg; Mn, 3.970 ± 0.318 mg/kg; Zn, 92.690 ± 2.073 mg/kg; Pb, 1.959 ± 0.364 mg/kg; Cu, 5.626 ± 0.289 mg/kg; Co, 0.120 ± 0.010 mg/kg; P, 150.033 ±3.728 mg/kg and Se, 0.070 ± 0.013 mg/kg. The elemental content of the fleece owns a special importance since it reflects the mineral status of the body thus could characterize as indicator in terms of the animal welfare.