Identification of Indigenous Sheep Production Systems and Major Objective Traits of Sheep Producers at Anfillo and Sibu Sire Districts, Western Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was undertaken at Anfillo and Sibu Sire districts of Oromia Region, Ethiopia to identify sheep production systems, major objective traits and major production constraints. A total of 146 sheep producer households (73 from each district) who have at least three sheep were involved in the study. Semi-structured questionnaire, secondary data and personal observation were used to capture data. Most of household heads (82.90%) involved in the current study were males. The overall average sheep flock size and landholding per household obtained in the current study were 7.95±2.25 and 2.33±2.51ha, respectively. The primary objective of sheep rearing was income generation followed by meat production. The most common housing types in the study areas were separate houses purposively built for sheep, followed by sheds constructed attached to the family house. In addition, some of the respondents (17.8%) also indicated that sheep shared family house. Natural pasture and fallow land were the most important feed sources both in dry and wet seasons. Most common source of water (80.8%) in the study districts was river. The overall mean age at first service for male and female were 7.88±0.08 and 7.65±0.09 months, respectively. The mean age at first lambing, lambing interval and litter size/twinning rate obtained in the current study were 13.66±0.09 months, 7.85±0.07 months and 1.46±0.05, respectively. Appearance (I=0.32), mothering ability (I=0.26) and twining rate (I=0.19) were some of the most important attributes used for female selection; while appearance (I=0.33), growth rate (I=0.32) and tail size (I=0.21) were the most preferred traits for breeding male selection. Feed shortages (I=0.32) and diseases and parasites (I=0.25) were the major constraints that influence sheep production in both districts. The production and reproduction performances obtained from owners in the current study were encouraging provided that the constraints indicated in the current study are addressed.