Herd Management and Breeding Practices of Indigenous Sheep Population in South Wollo, Eastern Amhara; Ethiopia

Abstract

The objective of the study was to undertake herd management and breeding practices of indigenous sheep population in selected districts of South Wollo zone; Eastern Amhara, Ethiopia. Three districts were selected purposely based on their flock size, sheep production potential and their contribution to the farmers. About 180 households from Wogide, Borena and Legambo districts were used for household survey. The questionnaire was analyzed by using descriptive statistics. The parameters were analyzed using SPSS and SAS software. The breeding ewes had taken a major portion followed by lambs. Flock mixing practice would be a good opportunity for establishment of community-based breeding program as ram as it facilitates ram sharing which is one of the major component of community-based breeding program. In the study areas, all classes of the sheep were herded together during the day time though new born lambs were managed independently for some days near the house. About 25.48%, 35.56% and 39.06% of farmers in Wogide, Borena and Legambo sheep farmers were provided special management to their breeding ram while the remaining did not provide any management for their breeding ram, respectively. The survey discovered the high proportion of uncontrolled mating in the study areas. The main objectives of keeping sheep were for income generation followed by meat consumption and saving. Appearance/conformation, fast growth, coat colour, lambing interval, age at first sexual maturity and tail size were the most important traits for selection of breeding rams and ewes in the study areas. The most preferable colour in the study areas was white, red and gray and unwanted colour was black and black with white. An intervention to select best rams and culling of inferior ram would be suggested to enhance genetic gain.

Keywords: Breeding practices, district, indigenous sheep, selection criteria, trait preferences