Characterization of Indigenous Sheep Breed Based on Morphological Traits

This study aimed to generate organized information on physical characteristics and prediction of live weight using linear body measurements of indigenous sheep breeds in three districts of Kellem Wolega zone (Sedi Chanka, Dale Sedi, and Hawa Gelan). The main frequently observed coat color pattern of both sex sheep was plain ۶۳.۳%, ۷۲.۱%, and ۸۶.۹% and the main frequently observed coat color type was brown ۵۱.۵%, ۵۳.۶%, and ۵۵.۴% Dale Sedi, Sedi Chanka, and Hawa Gelan districts, respectively. Straight head profiles ۸۵.۹%, ۹۳.۶%, and ۹۴.۶% were mainly observed for sheep in Dale Sedi, Sedi Chanka, and Hawa Gelan districts, respectively. All the sampled female and male sheep had no horns. The most ear form of sheep observed was semi-pendulous ۸۵.۱%, ۷۶.۷%, and ۶۵.۹% for Dale Sedi, Sedi Chanka, and Hawa Gelan districts sheep populations, respectively. The majority of sampled sheep population in Dale Sedi (۵۲.۱%) possesses cylindrical and twisted at the end, whereas Sedi Chanka (۷۹.۵%) and Hawa Gelan (۷۴.۶%) possess a cylindrical and straight tail shape. The majority of the sheep population in the studied districts had no wattle ۹۶.۲ followed by the presence of wattle ۳.۸%. The highest correlation between chest girth and body weight both for male and female sheep indicates that chest girth is the best variable for predicting live weight than other measurements. The overall mean of body weight, chest girth, body length, pelvic width, wither height, ear length, tail length, tail circumference, and scrotal circumference was ۲۸.۷۴ kg, ۷۰.۹ cm, ۶۸.۷۸ cm, ۶۳.۲۱ cm, ۱۵.۲۵ cm, ۱۱.۲۹ cm, ۲۶.۱۳cm, ۱۸.۹۲ cm, and ۲۲.۶۳ cm, respectively. The highest correlation between chest girth and body weight both for male and female sheep indicates that chest girth is the best variable for predicting live weight than other measurements. Consequently, this finding was put baseline for consideration of the physical characteristics of sheep and helped as a base for designing a sustainable breeding program and selection schemes in the study area.This study aimed to generate organized information on physical characteristics and prediction of live weight using linear body measurements of indigenous sheep breeds in three districts of Kellem Wolega zone (Sedi Chanka, Dale Sedi, and Hawa Gelan). The main frequently observed coat color pattern of both sex sheep was plain ۶۳.۳%, ۷۲.۱%, and ۸۶.۹% and the main frequently observed coat color type was brown ۵۱.۵%, ۵۳.۶%, and ۵۵.۴% Dale Sedi, Sedi Chanka, and Hawa Gelan districts, respectively. Straight head profiles ۸۵.۹%, ۹۳.۶%, and ۹۴.۶% were mainly observed for sheep in Dale Sedi, Sedi Chanka, and Hawa Gelan districts, respectively. All the sampled female and male sheep had no horns. The most ear form of sheep observed was semi-pendulous ۸۵.۱%, ۷۶.۷%, and ۶۵.۹% for Dale Sedi, Sedi Chanka, and Hawa Gelan districts sheep populations, respectively. The majority of sampled sheep population in Dale Sedi (۵۲.۱%) possesses cylindrical and twisted at the end, whereas Sedi Chanka (۷۹.۵%) and Hawa Gelan (۷۴.۶%) possess a cylindrical and straight tail shape. The majority of the sheep population in the studied districts had no wattle ۹۶.۲ followed by the presence of wattle ۳.۸%. The highest correlation between chest girth and body weight both for male and female sheep indicates that chest girth is the best variable for predicting live weight than other measurements. The overall mean of body weight, chest girth, body length, pelvic width, wither height, ear length, tail length, tail circumference, and scrotal circumference was ۲۸.۷۴ kg, ۷۰.۹ cm, ۶۸.۷۸ cm, ۶۳.۲۱ cm, ۱۵.۲۵ cm, ۱۱.۲۹ cm, ۲۶.۱۳cm, ۱۸.۹۲ cm, and ۲۲.۶۳ cm, respectively. The highest correlation between chest girth and body weight both for male and female sheep indicates that chest girth is the best variable for predicting live weight than other measurements. Consequently, this finding was put baseline for consideration of the physical characteristics of sheep and helped as a base for designing a sustainable breeding program and selection schemes in the study area.

کلیدواژه ها:

Breed ، Morphological characterization ، Native sheep ، West Wollega Zone