Application of Body Measurements of Blackhead Somali Sheep as Parameters for Estimation of Live Weight
الموضوعات :
آ. آبرا فیسا
1
(Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Salale University, Fitche, Ethiopia)
ک. کبده کفنی
2
(School of Animal and Range Science, Haromaya University, Diredawa, Ethiopia)
ن. آماها
3
(School of Animal and Range Science, Haromaya University, Diredawa, Ethiopia)
الکلمات المفتاحية: live weight, body measurements, blackhead Somali sheep, regression equa-tions,
ملخص المقالة :
Sheep and goat have a great role in the economy of the pastoral communities which have inhabited in the lowland parts Ethiopia. The study was conducted in Borana low land southern Ethiopia to predict the body weight of blackhead Somali (BHS) sheep using linear body measurements under farm condition. A total of 478 heads (301 female and 177 males) were measured for linear body measurements and body weight. Data obtained on withers height (WH), chest girth (CG), body length (BL), chest depth (CD), pelvic width (PW), cannon bone circumference (CC), tail circumference (TC), scrotal circumference for male (SC) and body weight (BW) were fitted into linear, and multiple regression models to predict live weight from the body measurements. The animals were categorized into two groups as males and females; and four age groups, based on the pair of permanent incisor (PPI), as 0 PPI, 1 PPI, 2 PPI and 3 PPI. The result showed that, live body weight of BHS sheep breed obtained in the present study was lower comparing with the recommended body weight of 30 kg at yearling age. Based on stepwise regression procedure, CD, CG, WH and TC for females and CG, CD, CC, BL and WH for males were better for predicting live weight in multiple linear regression models. The magnitude of correlation coefficient (r) indicated that CG had the highest correlation with live weight (r=0.90 for males) and (r=89 for females). Hence, the study concluded that body weight prediction from chest girth alone or in combination with other body measurements would be a practical option under field conditions with reasonable accuracy.
AFD (Action for Development). (2010). Report on General Characteristics of the Borana Zone, Ethiopia.
Afolayan R.A. (2006). The estimation of live weight from body measurements in Yankasa sheep. Czech J. Anim. Sci. 51, 343-348.
Angassa A. and Oba G. (2007). Relating long-term rainfall variability to cattle population dynamics in communal rangelands and a government ranch in southern Ethiopia. Agric. Syst. 94, 715-725.
Atta M. and El khidir O.A. (2004). Use of heart girth, wither height and scapuloischial length or prediction of live weight of Nilotic sheep. Small Rum. Res. 55, 233-237.
Ayalew W., Dorland A.V. and Rowlands J. (2004). Design, Execution and Analysis of Livestock Breed Survey in Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. Oromiya Agricultural Development Bureau, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
CSA (Central Statistics Authority). (2015). Agricultural Sample Survey, 20014 / 1015. Volume II, Report on Livestock and Livestock Characteristics, Statistical Bulletin, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Desta S. and Coppock D.L. (2002). Cattle population dynamics in the southern Ethiopian rangelands, 1980-1997. J. Range Manage. 55, 439-451.
Desta S. and Coppock D.L. (2004). Pastoralism under pressure: tracking system change in southern Ethiopia. Human Ecol. 32, 465-486.
Edea Z. (2008). Characterization of Bonga and Horro Indigenous sheep breeds of smallholders to design community based breeding strategies in Ethiopia. MS Thesis. Haramaya Univ., Haramaya, Ethiopia.
FAO. (2011). Draft Guidelines on Phenotypic Characterization of Animal Genetic Resources, Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Thirteenth Regular Session. Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), Rome, Italy.
Fasae O.A., Chineke A.C. and Alokan J.A. (2005). Relationship between some physical parameters of grazing Yankasa ewes in the humid zone of Nigeria. Arch. Zootec. 54, 639-642.
Firew F. (2008). On-farm characterization of blackhead Somali sheep breed and its production system in Shinile and Erer districts of Shinile zone. MS Thesis. Presented to the School of Graduate Studies of Hramaya Univ., Hramaya, Ethiopia.
Getachew T., Alemargot H., Markos T., Sharma A.K., Solkner J. and Wurzinger M. (2010). Herd management and breeding practices of sheep owners in a mixed crop livestock and a pastoral system of Ethiopia. African J. Agric. Res. 5(8), 685-691.
Gizaw S. (2011). Characterization and Conservation of Indigenous Sheep Genetic Resources: A Practical Framework for Developing Countries. International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.
Hamito D. (2009). Estimation of Weight and Age of Sheep and Goats. P. 11 in Ethiopia Sheep and Goat Productivity Improvement Program (ESGPIP), Ethiopia.
Kamara A.B., Swallow B. and Kirk M. (2004). Policies, interventions and institutional change in pastoral resource management in Borana, Southern Ethiopia. Dev. Policy Rev. 22, 381-403.
Khan Z.I., Hussain A., Ashraf M. and McDowell L.R. (2006). Mineral status of soils and forages in Southwestern Punjab-Pakistan: Micro-minerals. Asian-Australasian J. Anim. Sci. 19, 1139-1147.
Kosgey I.S., Van Arendonk J.A. and Baker R.L. (2004). Economic values for traits in breeding objectives for sheep in the tropics: impact of tangible and intangible benefits. Livest. Prod. Sci. 88, 143-160.
Markos T. (2006). Productivity and health of indigenous sheep breeds and crossbreds in the central Ethiopian highlands. Ph D. Thesis. Swedish Univ., Uppsal, Sweden.
Mekasha Y.G. (2007). Reproductive traits in Ethiopian male goats, with special reference to breed and nutrition. Ph D. Thesis. Swedish Univ., Uppsala, Sweden.
Mengiste T. (2008). On-farm performance of Washera sheep at Yilmana densa and Quarit districts of the Amhara national Regional State. MS Thesis. Hawassa Univ., Awassa, Ethiopia.
SAS Institute. (2009). SAS®/STAT Software, Release 9.1. SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC. USA.
Silanikove N. (2000). The physiological basis of adaptation in goats to harsh environments. Small Rumin. Res. 35, 181-193.
Söderquist L. and Hulten F. (2006). Normal values for the scrotal circumference in rams of Gotlandic breed. Reprod. Domest. Anim. 41, 61-62.
Solomon A.K., Gemeda D., Ulfina G., Birhanu S. and Fikru T. (2005). Small ruminant production system in east wellega and west Shewa zones. Research Report. Oromia Agricultural Research Institute. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Solomon G. (2008). Sheep resources of Ethiopia: Genetic diversity and breeding strategy. Ph D. Thesis. Wageningen Univ., The Netherlands.
Sowande O.S. and Sobola O.S. (2008). Body measurements of West African dwarf sheep as parameters for estimation of live weight. Trop. Anim. Health Prod. 40, 433-439.
Tesfaye G. (2008). Characterization of Menze and Afar Indigenous sheep breeds of smallholders and pastoralist for designing community based breeding strategies in Ethiopia. MS Thesis. Haramaya Univ., Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.
Thiruvenkadan A.K. (2005). Determination of best-fitted regression model for estimation of body weight in Kanni Adu Kids under farmer’s management system. Lives. Res. Rural. Dev. 17, 1-11.
Toe F., Rege J., Mukasa-Mugerwa E., Tembely S., Anindo D., Baker R.L. and Lahlou-Kassi A. (2000). Reproductive characteristics of Ethiopian highland sheep: I. Genetic parameters of testicular measurements in ram lambs and relationship with age at puberty in ewe lambs. Small Rumin. Res. 36, 227-240.
Wendimu B., Kefelegn K., Yoseph M. and Shibabawu B. (2016).Phenotypic characterization of Black Head Somali sheep in gode and Adadile Districts, Ethiopia. J. Glob. Vet. 17, 265-270.
Wilson R.T. and Durkin J.W. (1983). Livestock production in central Mali: Weight at first conception and ages at first and second parturition’s in traditionally managed goat and sheep. J. Agric. Sci. 100, 625-628.
