A Morphometric Comparison of the Skulls of Akkaraman and Kangal Akkaraman Sheep on a Three-Dimensional Model Using Computed Tomography

Abstract

This study was carried out to make was to determine the craniometric characteristics of the crania of Akkaraman and Kangal Akkaraman sheep, local breeds of Turkey, by using computed tomography (CT). Equal numbers of healthy male Akkaraman and Kangal Akkaraman sheep heads aged 8-12 months were used in the study (n=12/group). The images were obtained by scanning the heads with a CT device. These images were converted into a three-dimensional structure using the 3D Slicer program and their morphometric measurements were calculated. In the study, a total of 13 parameters and 5 indexes were measured in the skull. As a result, the morphometric differences of the skulls of Akkaraman and Kangal Akkaraman sheep were determined by statistical methods. All the characteristics examined were expressed as mean ± SE. Results of our study, when the craniometric data were examined a statistically significant difference was found in skull length, skull width, greatest length of the nasal bone, greatest breadth across the nasal, medial frontal length, cranial width, facial width, height of the foramen magnum, greatest breadth of the foramen magnum, greatest frontal breadth and least breadth between the orbits parameters (P 0.05). It is thought that the presented study may be useful to veterinarians in the fields of surgery and clinical practice, and to studies in the field of zooarchaeology, as well as sheep taxonomy.