Productive Performance Evaluation of Dorper Sheep and Its F1 at Areka Agriculyural Research Centre Mente Dubo Breed Evaluation and Distribution Site Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the growth performance of purebred Dorper sheep and its F1 crossbred (50%, upgraded 75%), lamb following crossing pure imported Dorper with local ewe under BED site at the same rearing condition. For these study for crossing purpose Locally reared SNNPR regional native sheep, (Doygena  n=74 ewe,Dawro,n=14 ewe, and and Bonga n=14 ewe were used. Local ewe was crossed with South African Dorper ram following station natural controlled breeding system. Data were collected during 2012-2015. For this study Productive data of four consecutive year data were analyzed. Blood level, lamb sex, birth season, birth year, birth type and ewes’ parity were considered as fixed effects. Data analyses were performed using general linear model procedures of SPSS Version 20. Breed was a significant source of variation .This study confirms Dorper sheep can adapt and had performed better in the study BED site and Crossing with local and up grading could gain heaver birth weight than lower blood level. 75 percent F1 progeny was significantly better weight gain than 50 percent under station rearing condition. The birth weight of Dorper x doygena,Dorper X Bonga and Dorper X Dawro were 2.58±0.59,2.62±0.19,2.42±0.25k.gespectively . Birth weight for pure Dorper lambs born on BED site, for 50 percent, and 75% percent were3.6±0.158 kg, 2.58±0.59 kg respectively. Singles born lamb were significantly (P<0.01) heavier than twins and triplet with an average 3.036±0.680kg, 2.355±0.104 kg and 2.3±0.33kg respectively, but sex did not affect birth weight. The present results suggested that under better management and right  breeding program Dorper sheep could improve the productivity of the local sheep.it can be conclude  that Dorper and its F1 cross with Doygena,Bonga and Dawro sheep were adaptable and perform well at station rearing condition level.it is recommended that indigenous sheep genetic improvement via exotic Dorper sheep crossbreeding X local and production of F1  could be one option of breeding sheep source in side of community based sheep breed genetic improvement. It is also suggested that for better evaluation of the breed further study at farmer level in different agroecology is required.

Keywords: Dorper ; performance evaluation; crossing, southern native sheep.