Phenotypic Characterization of Dorper, Local Sheep and Their Crossbred Sheep Population in North Eastern Amhara, Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was conducted at Sirinka Agriculture Research Center to phenotypically characterize local (N=81), F₁ Local x pure Dorper 50% crossbred (N=128) and pure Dorper (N=94) sheep populations. We included 303 animals in the study.  The animals were grouped into three age groups based on PPI as (0 PPI, 1 PPI, and ≥2 PPI). A total of 17 linear measurements, body weight and scrotal circumference for males were taken from each animal. General linear model of SAS 2008 was used for statistical analysis of the collected data. Breed, sex and age were the fixed effects considered for the analysis. Body weight and most of the linear measurements were significantly (P<0.01) affected by breed, age and sex effects. Body weight had the mean value of 28.47±0.8kg, 35.94±0.53kg and 46.65kg for local, crossbred and pure Dorper sheep, respectively. 41.32± 0.68kg and 32.61±0.54kg were the mean value of body weight of male and female sheep, respectively. Positive and highly significant (P<0.01) correlations were observed between body weight and most of the body measurements for all the three sheep breeds. The result of multiple linear regression analysis showed that chest girth explained more variation than any other measurements in both ewes (52%) and rams (78%) of local sheep, ewes (59%) and rams (86%) of crossbred sheep. The result of multiple linear regression analysis showed that chest girth (86%) and punch girth (70%) explained more variation than any other measurements in Dorper rams and ewes, respectively. Thus, it can be concluded that pure Dorper and crossbred sheep exhibit meat type traits. It was suggested to observe the performances of pure Dorper and crossbreds in farmers’ management condition.

Keywords: Crossbred, Dorper, Phenotype, Meat type, Structural index