Evaluation of flock structure and performances of Bonga sheep under extensive management conditions in Kaffa Zone, South Western Ethiopia

Abstract

This study was conducted in Adiyo and Telo districts of Kaffa Zone, South Western Peoples Regional State (SWEPRS) of Ethiopia with the aim of evaluating the performance of Bonga sheep under farmer’s management conditions. To this end, the farmers who have ewes were registered and 200 respondents were randomly selected. The study revealed that both participant and non-participant farmers have been rearing sheep for the purpose of income generation, followed by saving, social value, meat and wealth in decreasing order. The current study also revealed that disease and parasites are the major constraints for both groups, followed by predator and shortage of fodder. Lambing interval (LI) was 9.4 ± 0.18 months, days open (DO) were 20.2 ± 0.13 days and liter size (LS) was 1.4 ± 0.04, and lambing interval (LI) was shorter (8.5 ± 0.22 months) in Community based breeding program (CBBP) participants than in non-participants (10.5 ± 0.28 months). The birth, weaning and six month weight were 3.8 ± 0.06, 16.0 ± 0.10 and 27.8 ± 0.33 kg. The preweaning average daily weight gain and postweaning average daily weight gain were 136.0 and 133.0 ± 0.02 g/day respectively. Both participants and non-participants’ reproductive and growth performances have shown a remarkable progression. In conclusion, engagement of farmer in CBBP improved lambing interval, birth weight, weaning weight, six month weight, pre-weaning weight average daily gain, and post weaning average daily gain of bonga sheep. Hence, CBBP strategy is likely to be important to attain the designed benefit from sheep production in the area.

Keywords

• Bonga sheep
• ewe flushing
• reproductive performance
• community based breeding program (CBBP)
• estrus synchronization
• Pedro González-Redondo, University of Seville, Spain