Reproduction characteristic of local sheep in North Sumatra Province, Indonesia

Abstract

In Indonesia, sheep farming is an important activity and contribute significantly to meat production and farmers welfare. This study aimed to evaluate the reproduction activities of sheep from several districts in North Sumatra Province. Data were analyzed using general linear model with body weight, body condition score and litter size as dependent variables, whereas the independent variables was location, breed, sex and age, respectively. The result showed that body weight was significantly influenced (P<0.05) by sex, age and location of the study with LS mean of 21.7 kg. The least square means of body condition score was 2.1 and there was significant contribution (P<0.05) of location, sex and age, respectively. The least square means of litter size from this study was 1.36, with the range from 1-3 and there was no significant influence (P>0.05) of location, breed and age, respectively. The higher proportion of ewes compared to ram, the availability young sheep as well as the pre-weaning lambs, indicating that mating, lambing and raising post weaning lambs occurred accordingly and not influenced by season. The plantation areas seem favorable for sheep development in the region.