Phenotypic Characterization of Indigenous Sheep Types in Northern Ethiopia

Abstract

This study was aimed to generate basic information on physical characteristics of indigenous sheep types under farmer’s management condition in East Gojam zone. Multistage purposive sampling was employed based on the potential of sheep production. Linear body measurements were taken from 630 mature sheep (63 males and 567 females). Dentition was used to estimate the age of sheep as age group one (1pairs of permanent incisors), age group two (2pairs of permanent incisors) and age group three and above (≥3pairs of permanent incisors). Both qualitative and quantitative data were analyzed using SAS. Most East Gojam sheep populations were characterized by plain coat color pattern with reddish coat color, white color, smooth hair type and straight head profile. Moderate (0.57) relationship between chest girth and body weight was observed in female, while the moderate (0.7) relationship for male was observed between height at withers and body weight. Age by sex interaction had significant effect (p<0.05) on body weight. But the interaction effect (p>0.05) were not observed in most linear measurements (Body Length, Rump Length, Canon Bone Length, Canon Bone Circumference  and Ear Length) implying that these parameters were not affected by the sex-age interaction effect in this particular study. The regression analysis was undertaken to predict body weight from linear body measurements indicates that body weight, in most of the cases, could be predicted with a higher level of accuracy from more than one independent variables (Chest girth, height at wither and body length) in combinations in this particular study.

Keywords: Characterization, live body weight, linear body measurements, East Gojam Zone