Abstract:
The study was conducted in Legambo and Tenta districts of south Wollo Zone, with the
objectives to phenotypically characterize indigenous sheep populations and identify
breeding and husbandry practices. Data was gathered through structured questionnaire,
focus group discussions, field observations and linear body measurements of sample
populations. About 150 households (75 from each district) were used for household survey
.Linear body measurements were taken from 300 mature sheep (60 males and 240
females).To observe growth trends in body weight and qualitative data, 450 animals from
1PPI to 4PPI were taken. Both qualitative and survey data were analyzed by SPSS and
quantitative data were analyzed using SAS, version, 9.2,2008. Among the livestock species,
sheep was dominant in the study area and the overall average sheep flock size per
household was 13.74. Generally, decreasing trends in sheep population was reported. The
main objectives of keeping sheep were for income generation followed by meat
consumption. The major feed resources during dry and wet period were natural pasture
across the districts followed by hay during dry period. Appearance, fast growth and coat
color were the most important traits to select breeding ram in both area. Appearance,
lambing interval and twining ability were most important traits considered by farmers in
both Legambo and Tenta districts to select breeding ewes. The reported production
constraints were feed shortage, disease and drought. According to the respondents, the
overall average age at puberty in male was 7.77 ± 1.03 and 8.69 ± 1.23 months in females;
age at first lambing; lambing interval; reproductive life span; and litter size were 14.96 ±
0.78 months; 8.41 ± 0.86 months; 8.2 ± 1.12 years; and 1.11 ± 0.32 lambs, respectively.
The studied sheep populations attain their marketable mature weight when they attain
3PPI. Most sheep populations were characterized by plain coat color pattern. The main
coat color type was white (31.6%), red (24%) and brown (11.3%).Body cover of majority
of sheep population was coarse and long hair. Positive and highly significant (P<0.01)
correlations were observed between body weight and most of the linear body
measurements. Chest girth had consistently the highest correlation coefficient (0.96% for
males and 0.85% for females) with body weight. Sex of animals had significant (p<0.01)
effect on body weight (BW) and most linear body measurements except head length and
ear length. Male sheep has higher BW and linear measurements than the female sheep.
The pair–wise squared Mahalonobis’ distance for male and female sheep population had
non-significant (P>0.05) across the districts. Generally, in order to improve productivity
and reproductive performance of sheep population in the study area appropriate
management practices, breed improvement through selection and functional community
based breeding strategy should be implemented
