Within Breed Phenotypic Diversity of Sokota/Tigray Sheep in Three Selected Zones of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was carried out in Atsibi wonberta, Wukro kilteawlaeo, Ofla, Alamata, Enderta and Degua Temben district of Tigray Regional State of Ethiopia. The objectives of the study were to characterize the sheep breeds based on their different qualitative and quantitative traits in their natural environment. Data were gathered through semi-structured questionnaire, focus group discussions, field observations and linear body measurements of sample populations. Body weight, linear body measurements and qualitative records were taken and observed from 600 sheep. The most frequent sheep types were the short fat tailed and fat rumped type of sheep. These include Begie- Degua (common highland) sheep breed which is found in Atsibi-wonberta, Wukro-Kilteawlaelo, Ofla and Degua-Tembien districts, Elle (Afar) sheep breed mostly found in Alamata district and mixed sheep breeds found in Enderta district. For Elle sheep, Sex of the sheep had highly significant (p<0.01) effect on Heart girth (HG), Wither height (WH), tail length (TL). Whereas body weight (BW) and Body length (BL) was affected by sex of the sheep (p<0.05) and ear length (EL) of Elle sheep were not affected (p>0.05) by sex of the sheep. Differently in Common highland and mixed sheep breeds, BW, BL, HG, WH, TL and EL were not affected (p>0.05) by sex of the sheep. Chest girth had consistently showed the highest correlation coefficient (r= 0.22 to 0.84) in the Elle, common highland and mixed sheep breeds in this study.

Keywords: Sheep breeds, district (s), linear body measurement