Breeding Practices and Trait Preferences of Sheep Farmers in a Sub-Humid Tropical Environment

Abstract

The present study was carried out to determine the livestock breeding practices and the trait preferences of sheep farmers in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. A total of 132 sheep keepers were randomly sampled out of which data from 120 farmers were utilized in the final analysis. Primary data were collected through individual semi-structured questionnaire administration. Categorical and continuous variables including production and breeding traits were statistically tested based on sex of the respondents. Age of respondents, educational status, primary occupation, access to credit, and type of landholding were significantly different between the male and female farmers. Flock size was higher in farms owned by male farmers (19.63±1.04 versus 15.16±1.00). However, both sexes did not differ (p>0.05) in the ranking of meat, religion, income, hides, and skin and cultural purpose as reasons for keeping sheep. As regards management of sheep, control of breeding and access to veterinary services were low among female farmers. Apart from cultural/religious significance which was ranked higher by female farmers (63.38 versus 52.23; p≤0.05), other production traits such as disease resistance, survivability, growth rate, meat quality, fertility, body size, and prolificacy did not vary between sexes. Disease resistance, which the male farmers attached more importance (57.0 versus 70.52; p≤0.05), was the only significant breeding trait between sexes. Categorical principal component analysis (CATPCA) also revealed little influence of sex on the production and breeding traits investigated. The present findings could guide interventions such as the setting up of sustainable community-based breeding schemes to improve sheep production in the study area.

Characterization of goat production systems in two agro-ecological zones of Burkina Faso, West Africa

“…The diversity of reasons for keeping goats in this study confirms the multifunctionality of livestock for rural smallholder farmers. The different reasons reported in this study are in accordance with previous studies in West Africa (Ouédraogo et al, 2020;Traoré et al, 2017;Yakubu et al, 2020). In both areas, income was ranked first confirming the importance of goats in generating incomes for rural households (Kosgey et al, 2008;Semakula et al, 2010, Okeno et al, 2012Laouadi et al, 2018).…”

Pelimpahan Keterampilan Budidaya Domba Garut Unggul Pada Kelompok Ternak Karangkancana Desa Hujungtiwu, Panjalu Kabupaten Ciamis

“…Upaya mengurangi penurunan usaha ternak rakyat antara lain diperlukan adanya sinergi serta kolaborasi dari para pemangku kepentingan (Yakubu et al, 2020). Lebih jauh Yakubu et al (2020) menyatakan bahwa pelatihan dan pendampingan peternak domba skala rakyat perlu dilakukan agar mereka dapat bertahan dan bahkan meningkatkan performa usahanya. Melalui peningkatan usahanya maka akan terjadi kemudahan kesempatan peternak untuk kembali bangkit dan bertahan.…”

Breeding practices and trait preferences of goat keepers at Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality, South Africa: implication for the design of breeding programmes

“…CBBPs attempt to achieve the genetic improvement of animals through farmer participation practice (Ouedraogo et al 2020 ; Zoma-Traore et al 2021 ). Knowing traditional farmers’ breeding objectives and trait preferences helps in the development of CBBPs (Berhanu et al 2012 ; Fantahun et al 2016 ; Yakubu et al 2020 ). Breeding objectives aid farmers stick to directions which will attain increased profit (Wurzinger et al 2011 ).…”