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Animal Production

Table of Contents - 1990 - Volume 51, Issue 01  

Research Article

A note on production characteristics of three subtypes of Sudan Desert sheep under station management

A. H. Suliemana1 and R. T. Wilsona2†

a1 El Huda National Sheep Research Station, El Managil, Gezira, Sudan

a2 Small Ruminant Research Network, International Livestock Centre for Africa, PO Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Shugor, Dubasi and Watish subtypes of Sudan Desert sheep were evaluated on the basis of three productivity indices: (I) weight of lamb weaned per ewe per year; (II) weight weaned per kg ewe per year; and (III) weight weaned per kg0·75 ewe per year. Components used to construct the indices were litter weight at 150 days, parturition interval, survival to 150 days and ewe post-partum weight. There were differences among subtypes in all components but, because of interactions among them, there were no differences in the indices. The indices were 18·5 kg, 461 g and 1·25 kg for I, II and III respectively. Other studies on Sudan Desert and other types of African sheep with similar mature weights have generally shown better results. Suggestions for improving productivity are made.

(Received June 06 1989)

(Accepted January 17 1990)

Keywords

Footnotes

† To whom correspondence should be addressed.