TITLE:
Reproductive Performance and Mortality Rate in Local and Dorper × Local Crossbred Sheep Following Controlled Breeding in Ethiopia
AUTHORS:
Mesfin Lakew, Mussie Haile-Melekot, Getinet Mekuriaw, Solomon Abreha, Haimanot Setotaw
KEYWORDS:
Reproduction, Controlled Breeding, Mortality, Dorper × Local, Local Sheep, Sirinka
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Animal Sciences,
Vol.4 No.5,
October
16,
2014
ABSTRACT: The reproductive and lamb mortality data (n = 187) of the Local and crosses of Dorper × Local ewes following natural controlled breeding in Ethiopia were analysed. Data were collected during 2009-2011 at Sirinka breeding, evaluation and distribution site, eastern Amhara region of Ethiopia. Breed, lamb sex, birth season, birth year, birth type and ewes’ parity were considered as fixed effects. Data analyses were performed using general linear model procedures. Breed was a significant source of variation: the local sheep attained faster the age at first lambing than the crossbred ewe lambs (469 ± 8.45 vs. 555 ± 6.25 days, p