Growth Performance of Gumz, Rutana and Gumz-Rutana Crossbred Sheep under On-Farm conditions in Northwestern Lowlands of Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate growth performance of indigenous Gumz, exotic Rutana sheep, and their crosses under on-farm conditions as a step towards designing Gumz sheep conservation and improvement strategies in the north western lowlands of Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Data from a total of 180 Gumz, Rutana, and their crosses were collected between 2014 and 2016. The mean birth weights of the Rutana, Gumz and their crosses were 3.75±0.07, 2.86±0.06 and 3.38±0.07 kg, respectively. Sex was an important source of variation in which male lambs were superior over their female contemporaries. Single-born lambs were heavier (p<0.001) compared to their twins contemporaries. Rutana lambs had significantly highest (118.05±2.67 g) daily weight gain whereas Gumz lambs had lower (100.21±2.48 g). The daily weight gain of the crosses was 107.78±2.66 g. Single-born lambs grew faster than their multiple twin contemporaries between birth to weaning (110.84±1.97 vs. 106.52±2.27 g/day, P<0.05) at three months of age. The Rutana lambs also gained more (59.01±3.44 g/day) than the crossbred (52.15±3.36 g/day) and Gumz (46.34±3.29 g/day) lambs from weaning to six months of age. It can be concluded that Rutana inheritance improve pre-weaning and post-weaning growth performance of the indigenous breed of Gumz sheep. However, Gumz breed is a unique genetic resource and the only thin tailed sheep breed in Ethiopia. Therefore, conservation-based breeding program, including improvement of Gumz sheep through selective breeding should be part of the breed improvement program.