PHENOTYPIC CHARACTERIZATION AND CARCASS EVALUATION OF INDIGENOUS SHEEP IN GEBIRESU ZONE, AFAR REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The study was carried out in Gela’alo and Gewane districts of Afar region to phenotypically characterize indigenous sheep populations and evaluate the carcass components. To this effect, 180 households from six kebeles were selected randomly. Five hundred forty sheep of both sexes were sampled for phenotypic characterization study. Based on the morphometric measurements, structural indices were also calculated. Qualitative data were analyzed using SPSS while quantitative data using SAS version 9. The result showed that most of the household heads were male (76.6%) and pastoral system was the dominant production system. Among the livestock species, goats accounted for the largest proportion followed by sheep and the average goats and sheep flock size was 28.5 and 24.2, respectively. The primary purpose of keeping sheep was for milk consumption. The major feed resources for sheep during wet and dry seasons were communal natural pasture. Rivers and tape water were the main water sources for sheep in the study area. The households mainly practiced natural and uncontrolled mating systems. Selection was practiced both for male and female sheep. Appearance, color, age and sexual maturity were the most important traits in selecting breeding rams while milk yield, lambing interval, appearance and lamb growth were reported as traits given emphasis in choosing breeding ewes across the two studied districts. Feed shortages, recurrent drought, and disease were the major sheep production constraints in both districts. The most observed coat color pattern of sampled sheep populations were plain (50.7%) and patchy (49.3%) while the most observed coat color type was different color with white dominant (38.5%) followed by fawn (23.5%). All sampled sheep populations were characterized by short and coarse hair without a horn. Age, sex and districts had significant (P<0.05) effect on most of the quantitative variables. The average body weight (kg), body length, chest girth, height wither, rump height and tail length (cm) was 33.6, 57.4, 68.8, 62.1, 61.2 and 21.2, respectively. Positive and highly significant (P<0.01) correlations were observed between quantitative traits in both sexes except ear length. Heart girth and rump height were the best-fitted traits to predict body weight for ram and ewe, respectively. The structural indices indicated that the sampled sheep could be characterized as dairy type. The overall dressing percentage and carcass weight were 37.0% and 8.59 kg respectively. It is concluded that understanding the phenotypic characterization, husbandry practices and carcass characteristics of indigenous sheep can be used as base line data in designing a sustainable breeding program in the study area.