Breeding objectives, selection criteria and reproductive performance of indigenous sheep in west Wallaga zone, Oromia, Ethiopia
The study aimed to assess the breeding goals, selection criteria and reproductive performance of indigenous sheep in west Wallaga zone, Ethiopia. A qualitative survey approach through questionnaire administration was used to collect data. The analysis primarily involved descriptive statistics and ch...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Applied Animal Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/09712119.2025.2467108 |
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| Summary: | The study aimed to assess the breeding goals, selection criteria and reproductive performance of indigenous sheep in west Wallaga zone, Ethiopia. A qualitative survey approach through questionnaire administration was used to collect data. The analysis primarily involved descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. Based on index values, sheep were primarily produced for income generation, followed by meat production and saving, but with different ranking orders among the study areas. Results of this study showed that sheep milk was not produced throughout the year across the study areas. The findings also revealed that uncontrolled mating alongside communal grazing and access to water points was the most prevalent sheep breeding practices. Overall appearance, coat colour and growth rate for the breeding rams and growth rate, age at first sexual maturity and lambing interval for ewes were the most selection criteria in all study districts. The overall mean (±SE) age at first lambing, reproductive life span, litter size and average lifetime crop density were 14.68 ± 0.02 months, 9.8 ± 0.16 years, 8.83 ± 0.44 and 11.7 ± 0.30, respectively, which were significantly (P < 0.05) different among the districts. Hence, farmers’ indigenous knowledge needs to be considered in designing sustainable breeding strategy to improve productivity of sheep in the study areas. |
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| ISSN: | 0971-2119 0974-1844 |