Characterization of Sheep Production System in Eastern Arsi Zone of Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.20372/star.v8i1.03Keywords:
East Arsi zone, Characterization, Indigenous sheep, phenotypic traits, body weight, linear body measurementsAbstract
The study was conducted in Lode Hetosa, Lemmu Bilbilo, and Diksiis districts of the East Arsi zone of Oromia Regional State to undertake phenotypic characterization of indigenous sheep types, to characterise the production system, and to identify the production constraints and objectives of farmers’ sheep production. Multistage purposive and random sampling techniques were employed to identify districts and animals. A detailed structured questionnaire, focus group discussions, field observations of animals, and secondary data collection were employed to produce the data. A total of 136 households were involved in the survey questionnaire. The average mean numbers of sheep per household were 10.31, 10.33, and 18.07in Lode Hetosa, Diksiis, and Lemmu Bilbilo districts, respectively. In all districts, sheep were primarily kept for income generation, with index values ranging from 0.32 to 0.35. The major available feeds for the wet and dry seasons were natural pasture and crop residues, respectively. Physical appearance and coat colour were ranked first and second selection criteria, respectively, for both breeding rams and ewes in all districts, except that tail was ranked as a second selection criterion in Diksiis district for breeding rams only. Disease was ranked as the first pertinent constraint for sheep production in all study districts. The overall mean age of males and females at first mating was 5.51±0.1 and 6.96±0.16 months, respectively. The overall mean age at first lambing of sheep in the study areas was found to be 13.1±0.15 months. The overall ewe life-time lamb production in the study areas was reported as 10.64±0.30. The mean lambing interval of sheep in the study areas was 7.87±0.08 months. The major production system in the area is a mixed croplivestock system. Major sheep breeding objectives identified in the current study should be considered in the genetic improvement programme, and major constraints reported should also be addressed.
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