ON-FARM PHENOTYPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF INDIGINOUS SHEEP POPULATIONS IN DANGILA AND BANJA DISTRICTS OF AWI ZONE,  AMHARA REGION, ETHIOPIA

GEDEFAWU, ZEMENU

dc.contributor.author	GEDEFAWU, ZEMENU
dc.date.accessioned	2020-12-15T12:48:50Z
dc.date.available	2020-12-15T12:48:50Z
dc.date.issued	2020-12-15
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/11741
dc.description.abstract	Ethiopia is home for diversified indigenous sheep breeds in Africa which is developed by natural selection and potential genetic resources of sheep breeds. Sheep population is found widely distributed across the diverse agro-ecological zones of Ethiopia. Characterization of locally available farm animal populations provides essential information to make rational decisions for the improvement and the development of effective breeding programmes. This study was carried out on 420 mature sheep heads (42 males and 378 females) in Dangila and Banja district of Awi Zone; with an objective to characterize indigenous sheep population with respect to quantitative and qualitative traits under farmer‟s management conditions. Multistage purposive sampling technique was employed based on the potential of sheep production and flock size. The data was collected on the summer season with duration of three month (June-August). Both qualitative and quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 21. The main frequently observed coat color pattern of sampled sheep in Dangila district was patchy (54.2%) followed by plain (44.3%) and spotted (1.4%), with red (47.1%) and white colour (33.7%). Majority of the sheep in Banja district had plain (57.9%), patchy (36.6%) and spotted pattern (5.2%), with white (42.2%) and red (34.6%) coat color. Majority of sampled sheep in both districts had no wattle and ruff. Body weight of Dangila female sheep in (0PPI), (1PPI), (2PPI) and (≥3PPI) were 18±0.4, 21.3±0.7, 22.1±1.1 and 24.2±1.3 kg, respectively, and the values for males in the same age groups were 20.2±0.5, 23.5±0.8, 24.7±2.1 and 26.3±1.6 kg, respectively. Body weight of Banja female sheep from 0PPI to ≥3PPI were 17.4±0.3, 20.5±0.5, 22.7±0.1 and 24.3±1.1 kg, respectively, and the values for males in the same age groups were 18.2±0.4, 21.7±0.5, 23.5±1.1 and 25.1±1.1 kg, respectively. Sex and dentition classes of the sheep had significant (p<0.05) effect on the body weight and linear body measurements except ear length and tail length (p>0.05). From the current survey result breeding practice in both districts was uncontrolled. Body size, growth rate and meat production were traits highly preferred by sheep owners in both districts. Generally, it is possible to conclude that Banja sheep is relatively smaller in body weight and linear body measurements as compared to Dangila sheep. As recommendation, further molecular characterization and additional phenotypic characterization by expanding the area of the sample collection with different seasons is necessary to fully describe the breed.	en_US
dc.language.iso	en_US	en_US
dc.subject	biology	en_US
dc.title	ON-FARM PHENOTYPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF INDIGINOUS SHEEP POPULATIONS IN DANGILA AND BANJA DISTRICTS OF AWI ZONE, AMHARA REGION, ETHIOPIA	en_US
dc.type	Thesis	en_US