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| dc.contributor.author | Surafel Melaku | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2021-07-23T05:49:27Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2021-07-23T05:49:27Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2021-07-23 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://ir.bdu.edu.et/handle/123456789/12237 | |
| dc.description.abstract | This study was aimed at characterizing Simien sheep using qualitative physical appearance traits, quantitative morphological traits and growth characteristics; investigating the relationship between quantitative morphological traits and growth traits to develop prediction equation; identifying, prioritizing and defining sheep breeding objectives and selection criteria offarmers. A total of 63 households and 748 lambs from Miligebsa and Dara kebeles of Debark and Dabat woredas of North Gondar Zone in Amhara region. Ethiopia were registered and monitored. One year data on growth performance of the sheep was used for the study. Besides, data on morphological characters and body measurements were collected from a total of 1000 sheep from the two kebeles. Moreover, group discussion and proportional piling tools of PRA were used to identify and prioritize farmers' breeding objectives and selection criteria. Plain and patchy coat color patterns were characteristics of 57% and 43% of Simien sheep population, respectively. Besides. 44.5% of female and 40% of male sheep were found to have brown coat color. The breed was entirely fat tailed with formation of curved upward. The overall Ismean body measurements of Simien sheep were 24.9kg of body weight, 64.1cm of height at wither, 53.Ycm of body length, 70.6cm of heart girth and 13.8cm ofpelvic width. The overalllsmean birth weight of Simien sheep breed was 3.04±0.05kg. The overalllsmean weights of Simien sheep at 3.6 and 9 months of age were 11. 72±0.27kg, 18. 65±0.29kg and 22. 87±0. 63kg, respectively. The overall average daily gain in g/d between 0 to 90 days of age was J03.9±0.003. birth to 6 months of age was 91./±0.002; birth to 9 months of age was 75.8±0.002; weaning to 6 months of age was 7l.4±0.002 and 6 to 9 months of age was 34.9±0.004. Parity and birth type were significant (p<0.05) sources of variation at early body weights and growth rates and Sex showed no significant effect (p>O. 05) on most of weight traits of Simien sheep. Heart girth was found to be the best estimator of live weight for both male andfemale sheep (85% and 85.5%. respectively) with prediction equations for ewes and rams: Y=-21.5±0.92X and Y=-23.4±0.92X, respectively under on-farm conditions. Furthermore the leading farmers' purpose of sheep rearing was as source of cash income. Family performance took the 1" rank to select breeding rams and wider back area (shint) was considered as the most important criteria for selecting breeding ewes. Therefore. Simien sheep breed is one of the sheep breeds of Ethiopia characterized by short fat tail, plain and patchy coat color patterns dominated by brown color. The facts that birth weight ofSimien sheep was found to be superior to most of the sheep breeds in the country and that of growth rate of lambs decreased as age advances from zero to nine months signify that the sheep has good potential but there are influences by management and environmental factors. Simien sheep attains its mature weight at eruption of three pairs of permanent incisors, which indicates that the sheep takes longer duration to attain its mature body weight. Qualitative traits like coat color type and pattern influenced the decision of farmers in choosing animals so determination of economic value for such traits are suggested. Since the breed showed better growth performance at early age compared to many local breeds. improvement of the general management condition can support the breed to express its full genetic potentials consistently at later stages of its growth. At on-farm conditions heart girth can safely be applied to estimate live weight of Simien sheep using the determined prediction equations. Further study on the reproductive performance of the sheep is suggested to investigate more details about the breed. The existing variations within the breed are good potential for selection, so improvement by selection can be considered as good strategy for the breed. | en_US |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
| dc.subject | ANIMAL PRODUCTION | en_US |
| dc.title | Community-based Characterization of Simien Sheep Based on Physical Features, Growth Performance and Farmers' Breeding Objectives in Simien Mountains Region, Ethiopia | en_US |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_US |
