Abstract:
The study was carried out in three selected districts of Waghimra Zone. The objective of
the study was to undertake phenotypic characterization of Sekota sheep type and describe
breeding practices of farmers across agro-ecological Zones of the study districts.
Purposive sampling techniques were employed to select target farmers based on sheep
distribution density and agro-ecologies. A total of 180 households were selected to collect
questionnaire data. Body weight and linear body measurements were taken from 540
matured male and non-pregnant female sheep. Each animal was identified by its sex,
dentition and agro-ecologies of the sampling site. Adult sheep were classified into four
age groups as 1PPI, 2PPI, 3PPI and 4PPI to represent the approximate age of the
sampled sheep. All of the data collected from household’ survey and qualitative traits field
observation data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (version 22,
2015). Data for measures of body weight and linear body measurements were analyzed
using generalized linear model procedure of the statistical analysis system (SAS Version 9,
2004). The survey revealed that the mean sheep flock size per household were 6.15±3.06,
5.05±2.18 and 4.60±1.20 in highland, midland and lowland agro-ecologies of the study
area, respectively. Among the sampled sheep flock structures, breeding ewes accounted
for the largest proportion (42.6%) followed by 13.7% of ram lambs less than six moth. The
primary reason of keeping sheep by households was for cash income generation (0.43)
flowed by saving (0.28) index values. Shortage feed in both quantity and quality were
major constraints of sheep production in all agro-ecologies of the study site. About 33.9%
and 17.8% of respondents in the study area practiced selection for breeding male and
female, respectively. Within an index value (0.42) body size followed by coat color (0.31)
was the most important traits in choosing of breeding rams and lambing interval (0.35)
followed by lamb growth (0.25) was an important traits for selection of breeding ewes.