Phenotypic Characteristics Of Indigenous Sheep Of Bangladesh

Abstract

This experiment was undertaken to know the phenotypic characteristics of native sheep. The study was conducted to investigate morphometric characters of sheep in three different field sites (Naogaon, Noakhali and Tangail) and Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) nucleus flock through close observation, measuring and record keeping. Characteristics of body weight, body length, heart girth, wither height, fore leg length, hind leg length, head length, ear length, ear width, horn length etc were collected from mature sheep. The results indicate that the average litter size, birth weight, weaning weight and body weight gain were comparatively higher in sheep of BLRI nucleus flock than those of other three regions. The average numbers of service/conception, post partum heat period (days), age at first heat (days), age at first lambing (days), lambing interval (days) were 1. 30, 34.13, 266.50, 432.72, 192.17 respectively in BLRI nucleus flock which were comparatively better than the other three regions. The average litter size, birth weight (kg), weaning weight (kg) and body weight gain (g) in nucleus flock were 1.80, 1.19, 6.74 and 60.70 consequently. The overall performance of the sheep of BLRI nucleus flock were comparatively better than the others which may be due to the result of selective breeding, improve feeding, housing, health management etc.

Morphometrical and production traits of Bengal sheep in West Bengal, India

“…Bengal breed are low to moderately prolific ( Figure 9) and the questionnaire results indicated that nearly 40 percent of the ewes had history of twinning, however the survivability of the lambs was also low which can be attributed to poor nutrition of the ewe and also due to prevailing diseases. The rams mature earlier than the ewes which in accordance with the reports of Taylor (1968).The age at sexual maturity (days) and lambing interval for the ewes are higher than those reported by Hassan and Talukder (2011) but lower than those reported by Pervage et al (2009) The variation may be attributed to management and the type of nutrition available to the ewes, reproductive parameters are influenced of both intrinsic and extrinsic factors while the former relates to the genotype the latter is influenced by the non-genetic (environmental factors), Bronson (1989), Rosa and Bryant (2003) and Ungerfeld and Bielli (2012). The reproductive parameters are also influenced by temperature, nutrition, social influences, lambing date and lactation period, Forcada and Abecia (2006) and Scaramuzzi and Martin (2008).…”

“…The BW of the rams did not vary (P < 0.05) across the different locations (within a particular age category). The BW of the rams are in close accordance with those reported by Pervage et al (2009) for Barind sheep of Bangladesh but lower than those reported by Hassan and Talukder (2011).…”

“…The BL was lowest in the rams reared in S (age groups 2 and 3). The HW, CC, PG and BL values find consonance with the observations of Barind sheep (Pervage et al, 2009 andHassan andTalukder, 2011) and Garole sheep (Banerjee, 2003). The horn length (HoL) was lower (P < 0.05) for the rams reared in N and S (age group1) while lower (P < 0.05) values were observed in rams reared in K and S (age group 3).…”

“…The age at first lambing (AFL) was 425 days. The average age at first lambing was similar to that reported by Pervage et al (2009). Bengal breed are low to moderately prolific ( Figure 9) and the questionnaire results indicated that nearly 40 percent of the ewes had history of twinning, however the survivability of the lambs was also low which can be attributed to poor nutrition of the ewe and also due to prevailing diseases.…”

Prevalence of ovine footrot in Brahmaputra Chars (shoals) in Mymensingh

“…Sheep are reared for meat and wool production in Bangladesh (Hassan and Talukder, 2011). Indigenous sheep of Bangladesh can weigh up to 41 kilograms (Hassan and Talukder, 2011) with an annual wool production between 267 and 531g per animal per cutting (Pervage et al, 2009). Footrot may cause up to 8% lower wool production (Marshall et al, 1991), 0.5 micron drop in fibre diameter and up to 10% lower staple strength (Ware, 2005).…”