Abstract
A questionnaire survey and focused group discussions were conducted to characterize sheep production systems and traditional breeding practices of Gumz sheep as an essential step for designing the Gumz sheep breed conservation and improvement programme. A total of 240 households were included in the study during the period of November 2016 to March 2016. Smallholder farmers kept sheep as a source of income, meat and wealth with an index value of 0.43, 0.19 and 0.15, respectively. Important purposes of large scale farmers for keeping sheep were source of cash income (0.57) and investment opportunity (0.22). Average sheep flock sizes were 17.25 ± 0.68 and 90.63 ± 5.38 at smallholder and large scale production systems, respectively. Smallholder sheep flocks’ composition was 7.47 ± 0.28 Gumz, 3.68 ± 0.25 Rutana and 4.52 ± 0.22 Rutana-Gumz crossbred sheep. The corresponding figures for large scale farms were 21.2 ± 1.4, 30.7 ± 1.69 and 24.7 ± 1.47 sheep. The average numbers of rams in the smallholder sheep flocks were 0.31 ± 0.04 Gumz, 0.39 ± 0.04 Rutana and 0.24 ± 0.03 crossbreds, respectively. The corresponding figures for large scale farms were 3.10 ± 0.13 Rutana and 0.90 ± 0.14 crossbreds. The Gumz sheep was large in number, but farmers prefer Rutana and its crosses than Gumz in both systems. Diseases, stock theft and labour shortage were reported as the main constraints of sheep production. Although the pure Gumz breed meets the multifaceted roles of sheep for the smallholder farmers, the Gumz sheep population was declining in number in the study area due to uncontrolled breeding with Rutana and high preference of farmers for crossbreds over Gumz sheep. It is observed that there is a risk of dilution and loss of genetic diversity of the Gumz sheep. Hence, we recommend designing of conservation-based breeding program to conserve the locally adapted Gumz breed as well as to improve sheep production and productivity in the area through rational utilization of all the three genotypes.
Highlights
Ethiopia is endowed with diverse agro-ecological zones and corresponding large and diverse sheep resources numbering about 28.3 million heads [1]
Farmers in the study areas are reported to be more interested in the Rutana and their crossbred with Gumz sheep which are more preferred than the indigenous Gumz breed in the export market
A good understanding of the production system under which indigenous sheep breed are raised is essential in planning suitable improvement and conservation programs for breeds [20] [21]
Summary
Ethiopia is endowed with diverse agro-ecological zones and corresponding large and diverse sheep resources numbering about 28.3 million heads [1]. Northwestern lowland of Amhara region is among the high potential areas for livestock production and for the supply of live animals to the Sudan market [10] and used either for local consumption or for re-exporting to Egypt, Libya and Yemen. High human population growth and improvement of living standard increase the demand for animal protein, which leads to bulk supply of the best animals and crossing with exotic breeds to meet the demand for large number and best animals in the market. This is seriously threatening the existence of indigenous populations. Absence of adequate baseline information about the production system is considered as one of the bottlenecks for development of strategy for breed improvement and conservation in most developing countries
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