Productive and reproductive performance of Dawuro highland sheep managed under community-based breeding program in Ethiopia

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate growth and reproductive performance of highland Dawuro sheep population managed under a community-based breeding program in Ethiopia. Records used in the study were collected over 6 years (2017–2022). In the current study, 3554 records were considered. Studied traits were birth weight (BWT), 3-month weight (WWT), 6-month weight (SMWT), daily gain from birth to weaning (ADG0-3), daily gains from weaning to 6-month age(ADG3-6), litter size(LS), lambing interval (LI), and annual reproductive rates(ARR). The data were analyzed using general linear models of SAS software. The overall least squares mean (LSM± SE) for BWT, WWT, SMWT, ADG0-3, and ADG3-6 were 2.69±0.02; 14.6±0.49, 22.8±0.22 kg, 128.05±2.27 gram (g), and 71.5±0.23 gram respectively. Site difference exerted significantly on BWT, WWT, and SMWT. The result of WWT and SMWT results of Dawuro sheep were comparable with previously reported known Ethiopian sheep breeds. The overall least squares mean ± standard error of LS, LI and, ARR were 1.67±0.04 lambs, 239±31.91 days, and 2.19±0.06 lambs, respectively. WWT and SMWT traits showed good responses to selection. The general implication of the result to future improvement program was continue selection, strengthening the existing breeder cooperatives, integration of full animal health, feed packages, conservation of prolific flocks, improving the management of animals, expanding the current CBBP to adjacent potential kebele, create market linkage and scaling out the existing best practice to a new sites.

Relationship of Body Weights with the Productive Performance of Lambs of the Awassi and Karakul Breeds and Crossbred Sheep

“…The findings presented in Table (3) indicate that the sex of lambs does not have a significant impact on their AWG during the period between birth and weaning, nor does it have any significant effect on their growth by the age of six months. These results agreed with a number of studies [44,45]. Saltani & Azzawi [62] explained that the reason for this is due to the nutritional environment of mothers before and during pregnancy and for newborns after birth, which causes no differences between the sexes to appear, while the results of the current study didn't agree with the claims made by some researchers [47] that a newborn's sex has a substantial impact on their rate of AWG during the birth, weaning, and the age of 6 months of their life.…”

Comparison of different animal models for estimating genetic parameters for early growth traits and reproductive traits in Tianmu Sainuo sheep

“…In recent years, the study of sheep growth and reproductive traits has intensified, as these factors significantly influence farm profitability (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7). Animal growth varies over time, displaying a pattern of steady increase, although growth rates differ among individuals.…”