On-farm phenotypic characterization of native sheep types in North Wollo zone, Northern Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was conducted to generate organized information on physical characteristics of native sheep types in North Wollo Zone. The study was performed based on field measurements and body measurements were taken from 450 sheep of both sexes. Majority of the sheep have plain brown coat color (40.9%) and they are docile in temperament. Average observed heart girth, wither height, body length and scrotal circumferences for male sheep were 73.4, 63.5, 59.7 and 22.7 cm, respectively, while that for female sheep, was 67.5 for heart girth, 57.4 for wither height and 55.9 for body length. Male sheep in the Habru district weighed about 28.1kg where as female sheep weighed about 24.0 kg. About 87.5% of rams have curved horns with backwards as the dominant horn orientation while ewes are usually hornless. Average observed heart girth, wither height, body length and scrotal circumferences for male sheep were 70.0, 64.7, 57.4 and 24.5 cm, respectively, while that for female sheep it was 66.6 for heart girth, 61.8 for wither height, and 53.2 cm for body length and male sheep weighed about 25.9 kg where as  female sheep weighed about 22.6 kg. The present phenotypic information could be complemented with genetic analyses; and serve as a basis for designing appropriate conservation, breeding and selection strategies for sheep.