The objective of this review paper is to examine whether or not sheep crossbreeding is a feasible option to improve indigenous sheep breeds in developing countries using Ethiopian case as example. The paper reviewed and discussed the history of exotic breed introduction, research, and development efforts in crossbreeding and performance of crossbreds under on-station and on-farm management. Earlier, the choice of breed for crossbreeding overlooked interests and preferences of farmers mainly for physical appearance. More recently the introduction of Awassi sheep considered their preference. Performance evaluation results from the on-station and on-farm (mainly based on Awassi pilot crossbreeding villages) showed that crossbreds often outperformed their local contemporaries. Thus comparisons of pure local sheep and crossbreds among those breeds produced in some areas indicated a good outcome of this type of crossbreeding. However, the performance of crossbred sheep varied by location and depended on management and exotic inheritance levels. For most programs, no comprehensive data were available to do on-farm comparisons of herd productivity and cost-benefits or to evaluate the sustainability of the programs. Regardless of location, farmers participating in crossbreeding often showed keen interest in crossbreeding, mainly due to the fast growth, larger body size of crossbreds resulting in higher market prices as compared to their local sheep breeds. Ram multiplication and dissemination from the government farms were found inefficient. The predominant practice of a ubiquitous dissemination and selling of breeding rams to individual farmer dilute the efforts of crossbreeding and prevents generating the benefits expected from crossbreeding programs. Furthermore, indiscriminate crossbreeding without prior analysis of suitability of crossbreds for a given production environment and without clear breeding objectives presents a potential threat to better adapted indigenous breeds. Crossbreeding programs require strong research and development support from public service and non-governmental institutions for sustainable design, optimization, and implementation in clearly defined production environments.

	 

	Key words: Awassi, developing countries, Dorper,  on-farm performance, smallholder farmer.

/pdf/review-of-sheep-crossbreeding-based-on-exotic-sires-and-15dogygr5w.pdf

Review of sheep crossbreeding based on exotic sires and among indigenous breeds in the tropics: an Ethiopian perspective.

Im/mobility : homeland, identity and wellbeing amongst the Beni-Amer in Eritrea-Sudan and diasporas

The study was conducted to estimate calf growth, reproductive performance and milk yield of Ethiopia Sheko cattle and to assess non-genetic factors affecting their performance in their home tract as a step towards designing sustainable cattle conservation and improvement strategy. All the growth traits considered in the study were significantly affected by all non-genetic factors considered except for the fixed effects of Agro ecological zones (AEZs) and season of birth which were not significant for post weaning daily gain. Calving interval (CI) and days open (DO) were significantly influenced by AEZs, season and dam parity. Cows that calved in lowland had shorter CI and DO than cows which calved in midland. Cows that calved in short rainy season had Short CI and DO than those calved during dry season or long rainy season. Cows which calved for the first time had the longest CI and DO from the other parities whereas cows on their fifth parity had the shortest CI and DO. AEZ significantly affected lactation milk yield (LMY) and lactation length (LL), but not significant on daily milk yield (DMY) and 305 days yield (305DY). Season was significant on all milk traits considered except DMY. Parity effect was significant on LMY and 305DY, whereas DMY and LL were not affected. The non-genetic factors had significant effects for all of the reproductive; and many of the growth and milk performance traits considered and hence will need to be considered in cattle breed improvement program.

/pdf/evaluation-of-non-genetic-factors-affecting-calf-growth-3dzsfasitl.pdf

Evaluation of non-genetic factors affecting calf growth, reproductive performance and milk yield of traditionally managed Sheko cattle in southwest Ethiopia

Sheep are a major animal genetic resource for rural farmers of developing countries. Human population growth, increase in purchasing power and awareness among consumers are the major driving forces for raising the demand of sheep products. The contribution of Indian sheep to world meat production is only 5%. It has been foresighted that sheep sector is going to play a key role to uplift the economy of farmers by improving the livelihood of the rural poor, who account sizable of Indian population. Apart from the utility (meat, wool and milk) sheep can also be classified phenotypically by their tail type as fat-tailed and thin-tailed sheep. Compared to thin-tailed, fattailed sheep are well adapted to harsh environments of the tropics and also contribute more meat-(nearly double of thin tailed sheep) to the shepherds. Fat-tailed sheep constitute 25% of the world-sheep population. More than 293 million sheep of about 60 fat-tailed breeds are found in the different parts of world in the Middle East, North and Southern Africa, Iran, Pakistan, Central Asian Republics and China. In India, at-tailed sheep are scanty in number. The propagation of at-tailed ff sheep can increase meat production and provide more income and livelihood to the farmers. In this review, history of fat-tailed sheep along with their breeds, distribution, adaptive qualities, growth, production and reproduction performance, carcass yield and quality are reviewed with an objective to explore the possibility of their propagation for increase in meat production.

Fat-Tailed sheep-An important sheep genetic resource for meat production in tropical countries: An overview

The International Livestock Research Institute

Milk yield and calf growth performance of cattle under partial suckling system at Andassa Livestock Research Centre, North West Ethiopia.

The study was conducted in Farta and Lay Gaint districts ofthe Amhara Region. Data collected from 2007 to 2010 was used to evaluate growthperformance and to characterize phenotypically using linear body measurementsof Washera, Farta and their crossbred sheep. The fixed effects considered inthis study were breed, district, lamb sex, parity of the dam, birth or lambingseason and year, birth type and management system. Performance data wereanalyzed using general linear model procedure of Statistical Analysis Systemwhile the correlation and regression of linear body measurements on body weightand participatory rural appraisal were analysed using Statistical Package forSocial Science. The least squares mean and standard errors of yearling weightfor Washera, Farta and their crossbred sheep were 23.70±1.13kg, 20.08±0.73kgand 21.35±1.56kg, respectively; Whereas the averages daily gain from birth to30 days for these sheep breeds were 84.79±4.65gm, 64.53±9.75gm and82.21±5.61gm, respectively. Washera sheep breed has higher value for body weight;wither at height and pelvic width than Farta and crossbred sheep. Washera sheepwas much better in growth performance and in linear body measurements followedby crossbred sheep.

Growth performance and linear body measurements of Washera, Farta and their crossbreed sheep under farmers management system in Western Highland of Amhara Region

Ethiopia is endowed with different Indigenous cattle genetic resources with millions of people directly depending on them. However, despite the potentials of these diversified genetic resources, the huge loss of cattle genetic diversity is becoming a prominent challenge these days. The aim of this review is to show the current status and performance of some selected indigenous cattle breeds of Ethiopia for better understanding of the situation of these breeds for the collective efforts towards conserving and improving the breeds. Based on the review, there are persuasive evidences on the critical situation of the selected indigenous cattle breeds. The facts and figures of the past and current situation of the selected indigenous cattle of Ethiopia showed that the situation of these breeds is very critical. This situation therefore demands the need to devise strategies to conserve and improve the cattle breeds based on the challenges that threatens them. Use of new biological and information technologies is also imperative to facilitate the genetic restoration process. Besides, use of new biological and information technologies which can enhance the conservation and improvement program are crucial. Various ongoing development interventions like Artificial Insemination and introduction of genotypes into new environments that are exacerbating threat of the breeds should totally be avoided by revising and designing sound approaches for cattle Conservation and improvement programs. Strict regulations and by laws should also be in place for illegal movement of breeding cattle to the neighboring countries.

A review on Indigenous cattle genetic resources in Ethiopia: adaptation, status and survival.

A study, to develop regression models for prediction of body weight from other linear body measurements, was conducted in Esite, Farta and Lai-Gaint districts of South Gondar, Amhara region. Records on body weight (BW) and other linear body measurements (Body Length (BL), Wither Height (WH), Chest Girth (CH), Pelvic Width (PW) and Ear Length (EL)) were taken from 941 sheep. Non-linear, simple linear and multiple linear regression models were developed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 12.0). For the multiple linear regressions, step-wise regression procedures were used. Predicting models were developed for different age, sex and for the pool. Positive and significant (P<0.01) correlations were observed between body weight and linear body measurements for all sex and age groups. Among the four linear body measurements, heart girth had the highest correlation coefficient (except ear length) in all age and sex groups which is followed by body length, height at wither and pelvic width. Heart girth was the first variable to explain more variation than other variables in both sex and age groups. The models developed had a coefficient of determination of 0.26 to 0.89; the highest coefficient of determination was depicted for male while the lowest was for dentition groups having two permanent incisors. Regression models in general were poor in explaining weight for the dentition groups above one pair of permanent incisors. Heart girth alone was able to estimate weight with a coefficient of determination of 0.77, for both sexes and the pool. The coefficient of determination of the fitted equations (in general) decreased as the age of sheep advances indicating that the fitted equations can predict weight for younger sheep with better accuracy than for older ones. In general, much of the variation in weight was explained when many traits were included in the model. However, for ease of use and to avoid complexity at field condition, it is possible to use heart girth alone as a predicting tool. As a method to estimate weight using linear body measurements, it is possible to use these linear body measurements for selection in an effort to improve body weight of Farta sheep. In addition, the difference in the correlation coefficients between weight and other linear measurements for different age groups indicates the possibility of using different body measurements at different ages to predict weight and use for selection as well.

Estimation of live body weight from linear body measurements for Farta sheep.

The paper is initiated to design appropriate conservation strategies and breeding scheme for Fogera cattle breed that will be used as a guide for other Ethiopian indigenous cattle breed. Two types of data, on-farm and on-station, were used; the on-farm data was collected from three districts, namely, Fogera, Dera, and Bahir Dar Zuria; those are expected as the home of the breed. A total of 150 farmers, which are knowledgeable and having at least one cattle of Fogera phenotype in their herd, were purposively selected and interviewed. Additionally, farmer’s focus group discussion (FGD) was conducted to capture the historical background, population, and distribution of the breed. SPSS (version 16) and index method was used to analyze the quantitative and scoring data’s, respectively. A meeting at national and regional level was also conducted to evaluate the existing conservation strategy and to identify the major stakeholders for the strategy. The main reasons to conserve Fogera breed are due to presence of interrelated constraints, presence of unique traits of the breed, better attitude of farmers, and decreasing population trend of the breed. Community-based in situ conservation strategy, to ensure the participation of the community, was designed for the breed. With the conservation strategy, related activities like feed development, animal health interventions, market linkage, and development of cooperatives will be implemented to improve the working environment. The stakeholders that are identified as an actor in the strategy should realize their honest participation for the sustainability of conservation and improvement of the breed.

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Getinet Mekuriaw

Papers

Milk yield and calf growth performance of cattle under partial suckling system at Andassa Livestock Research Centre, North West Ethiopia.

Growth performance and linear body measurements of Washera, Farta and their crossbreed sheep under farmers management system in Western Highland of Amhara Region

A review on Indigenous cattle genetic resources in Ethiopia: adaptation, status and survival.

Estimation of live body weight from linear body measurements for Farta sheep.

Conservation and Improvement Strategy for Fogera Cattle: A Lesson for Ethiopia Ingenious Cattle Breed Resource