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| dc.contributor.author | Guadie Goshu | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2022-01-25T06:39:41Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2022-01-25T06:39:41Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2022-01-25 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://ir.bdu.edu.et/handle/123456789/12970 | |
| dc.description.abstract | This study was targeted to phenotypically characterize the indigenous sheep populations and defining breeding objectives in selected districts of central and west Gondar zone, Amhara regional state, Ethiopia. The survey was undertaken on 187 households (HHs) selected by random sampling. Body measurements were taken from 193 sheep, 26 male and 167 female. Dentition had used to estimate the age of the sheep. Data were assembled through semi-structured questionnaire, focus group discussions and field observations. Survey data and body weight and linear body measurement data and structural indices were analyzed using SPSS 20.0 (2011). Source of cash income, meat for home consumption, savings, ceremony/gift/ and manure were the major purpose of keeping sheep. The average sheep flock size owned per household of Alefa was 10.86±0.59 lower than Quara 12.5±1.11 and higher than Takusa 9.92±0.46. Color, appearance and growth rate were used for male selection while Color, appearance, growth and twinning ability was the preferred traits for breeding ewe in all districts. The overall average age at first mating in males was 5.09±0.06 while for female was 5.02±0.05 months. Age at first lambing was 10.01±0.05, Lambing interval was 7.36±0.05, reproductive life span of ewes and average number of lambing per ewe’s lifetime were 18.07 ± 0.15 years and 16± 0.24 lambs, respectively. Mating of sheep in Alefa, Takusa and Quara in 85.71%, 58.46% and 15.38% of the cases was) practiced controlled mating system, respectively. Major sheep production constraints were disease, predator, feed shortage, water shortage and market in order of importance. The overall body hair coat colour pattern was 74.16%, 13.47% and 11.92% for plain, patchy and spotted, respectively. Red (38.34%), brown (27.46%), red with white (17.1%), white (8.29%), black with white (5.7%) brown with white head (2.07 %)), red with white head (0.52%) and white with black neck (0.52%) were the common coat colors observed. xi District has effect on live body weight and linear body measurements. Body weight of Quara sheep was significantly (p<0.05) heavier than Alefa and in turn Alefa was heavier than Takusa. Effect of Ago-ecologies were significant (p<0.05) on body weight and linear body measurements. Body weight of lowland sheep heavier than midland sheep. Sex had also significant effect (p<0.05) and Body weight of male sheep heavier than female sheep. Positive and significant (P<0.05) correlations were observed between body weight and most of the body measurements for traits observed in this study of indigenous sheep populations. The stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that body length and chest girth were the utmost important variables to predict live bodyweight of ewes and rams, respectively. District had a significant influence (p<0.05) on length index, body index, proportionality, transverse pelvic, longitudinal pelvic, dactyl thorax index, body ratio, relative cannon thickness index, over increase index and width slope. Strong correlations were observed between structural indices calculated from the same linear body measurements. The study revealed that indigenous sheep in the study areas are longilinear, convex curve. However, further studies are needed to clearly classify the indigenous sheep types into their production purpose. | en_US |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
| dc.subject | ANIMAL GENETICS and BREEDING | en_US |
| dc.title | PHENOTYPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF INDIGENOUS SHEEP POPULATIONS AND DEFINING BREEDING OBJECTIVES IN SELECTED DISTRICTS OF CENTRAL AND WEST GONDAR ZONE, AMHARA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA. | en_US |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_US |
