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On-station characterisation of indigenous Menz and Horro Sheep breeds in the central highlands of Ethiopia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2011

M. Tibbo ,
W. Ayalew ,
K. Awgichew ,
E. Ermias  and
J.E.O. Rege
M. Tibbo
Affiliation:
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Animal Genetic Resources P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
W. Ayalew
Affiliation:
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Animal Genetic Resources P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
K. Awgichew
Affiliation:
Institute of Biodiversity Conservation and Research (IBCR), P.O. Box 30726, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
E. Ermias
Affiliation:
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Animal Genetic Resources P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
J.E.O. Rege
Affiliation:
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Animal Genetic Resources P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Biotechnology P.O.Box 30709, Nairobi, Kenya
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Summary

On-station characterisation of indigenous Menz (n = 1 639) and Horro (n = 1 135) sheep of Ethiopia in the central highlands of the country was undertaken between 1992 and 1997 at the Debre Berhan Research Station of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) to study the phenotypic characteristics of the breeds. Body weights, linear body measurements, and testicular parameters were studied. The traits studied were live body weights (LWT), body length (BL), heart girth (HG), height at withers (WH), pelvic width (PW), chest depth (CD), distance between last rib and tuber coxae (DLP-ATR), scrotal circumference (SC), testicular diameter (TD), testicular length (TL), and epididymal tail diameter (ED). All except LWT (which was also measured at birth) were measured at 3, 12 and 24 months age. Fixed effects included in the analyses were breed, sex, birth type, birth season, birth year, and significant first-order interactions.

The Horro sheep had significantly (P<0.05) larger LWT at all ages than the Menz by as much as 6 to 18%. In both breeds, lambs born single were significantly (P<0.05) heavier than those born as twins or triplets. In all age categories and both breeds, males were consistently heavier and larger in size than females. Except for lambs of 3 months of age, the Horro sheep had larger (at least P<0.05) testicular measurements than Menz for all age categories.

Resumen

Entre 1992 y 1997 se llevó a cabo en la Estación de Investigación de Debre Berhan (ILRI) un estudio en estación de las características fenotípicas de las razas indígenas ovinas Menz (n = 1 639) y Horro (n = 1 135) de la zona central del altiplano de Etiopia. Se estudiaron el peso corporal, medidas corporales, y parámetros de testículos. Los estudios portaton sobre peso vivo corporal (LBW), longitud corporal (BL), circunferencia torácica (HG), alzada a la cruz (WH), anchura pélvica (PW), profundida torácica (CD), distancia entre la última costilla y coccís (DLP-ATR), circunferencia del escroto (SC), diámetro del testículo (TD), longitud del testículo (TL), y diámetro epididimario de la cola (ED). Todas las medidas, excepto la LWT que también fue tomada al nacimiento, se tomaron a los 3, 12 y 24 meses de vida. Se incluyeron en los análisis como efectos fijos la raza, el sexo, tipo de nacimiento, estación de nacimiento, año de nacimiento, y una serie significativa de interacciones de primer orden.

La raza Horro tuvo un LWT mayor ampliamente significativo (P<0,05) en todas las edades, mientras que la raza Menz alcanzó como mucho del 6 al 18%. En ambas razas los nacimiento de corderos por parto simple fueron significativos (P<0,05), respecto a los nacimientos dobles o triples. En todas las categoría de edades y en ambas razas, los machos presentaron mayor peso y longitud que las hembras. Excepto en el caso de corderos de 3 meses, en las demás categoría de edades la raza Horro presentó una medida testicular mayor (P<0,05) respecto a la raza Menz.

Keywords

Breed characterisationEthiopiaFat-tailed sheepHorroMenzOn-stationSheep
Type
Research Articles
Information
Animal Genetic Resources/Resources génétiques animales/Recursos genéticos animales , Volume 35 , April 2004 , pp. 61 - 74
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2004

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