Evaluation of improved sheep breeds in pastoral areas of Yabello district, Southern Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study was conducted at Yabello district of Borana zone with the objectives of evaluating the productive performance of the 25% Dorper crossbred and the local blackhead Somali sheep under agro pastoralists’ conditions, creating awareness, improving pastoralists’ knowledge and skill. The training was given to the selected pastoralists, development agents, and experts on the importance and management of the improved sheep. A total of four F1 50% Dorper crossbred were provided for the two established Pastoralists’ Research Groups (PRGs). Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected using appropriate methods. The quantitative data were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics and an independent sample t-test while qualitative were analyzed using pairwise ranking and narration methods. The result of the study indicated that 25% Dorper crossbred ram were significantly higher in birth weight, weight at 6 months, and yearling (marketable) weight at 12 months compared to the local blackhead Somali sheep. Moreover, Dorper crossbred had better marketability, weight, meat, drought, and disease resistance compared to their counterparts. As a result, all concerned parties should make 25% Dorper crosses more popular and scaled up in order to improve the productive performance of the local blackhead Somali sheep in the study areas. Key words: Dorper, evaluation, blackhead Somali.