Livestock production in central Mali: Reproductive components in traditionally-managed sheep and goats

Abstract

Results of a 6 1 2 - year study into the main reproductive parameters of traditionally-managed sheep and goats in agro-pastoral rainfed millet and irrigated rice systems in a semi-arid area are presented. Least-squares mean litter sizes for sheep were 1.04 young per birth with a parturition interval of 256 days and an annual reproductive rate of 1.60. For goats, the figures were 1.16, 296 and 1.55, respectively. The annual reproductive rate could be improved by attempting to increase litter size, either through selection or by crossing to more prolific tropical breeds, rather than by reducing the parturition interval.