On-Farm Comparative Evaluation of Growth and Reproductive Performance Traits of Washera and Gumuz Sheep Populations in Northwestern Ethiopia

Abstract

Growth and reproductive performance traits are traits of economic importance for sheep selection and productivity improvement. This study aimed at comparative evaluation of growth and reproductive performance traits of Washera and Gumuz indigenous sheep in the highland and lowland agro-ecologies of northwestern Ethiopia. Data on growth performance traits were collected from 412 Washera (162 male and 250 female) lambs and 208 Gumuz (72 male and 136 female) lambs. Concurrently, data on reproductive performance traits were collected from 406 Washera (130 rams and 276 ewes) sheep and 213 Gumuz (75 rams and 138 ewes) sheep. General linear model (GLM) univariate procedure was employed to analyze the collected data. Mean±SD values of adjusted yearling weight of Washera and Gumuz sheep was 21.80±1.91 and 20.37±1.85 kg, respectively. Breed type affect live weight significantly (P<0.001). Mean±SD values of age at first lambing, lambing interval and annual reproductive rate of Washera sheep were 11.69±1.96 months, 9.27±3.53 months and 2.12 lambs, respectively. The corresponding values for Gumuz sheep were 12.51±1.95 months, 10.43±1.25 months and 1.71 lambs, respectively. Production and reproduction performance values for traits of Washera and Gumuz sheep were comparable to other Ethiopian and African breeds. These values can be used to set up breeding objectives for optimizing breeding schemes of sheep breeding program. In addition, the varied minimum and maximum values of growth and reproductive performance traits indicates that there is within breed variability. This variation could be used as a basis for within breed selection among indigenous sheep by giving special consideration to growth rate traits, believed to have medium heritability values.