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Traditional goats and fat-tailed Sabi sheep in semi-arid north eastern Zimbabwe

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2011

S.J.G. Hall
S.J.G. Hall
Affiliation:
Overseas Development Institute, Portland House, Stag Place, London SW1E 5DP, UK
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Summary

Characterisations are given of the little-known Sabi sheep and the local population of the Small East African goat in two areas in NE Zimbabwe. The southern area had been more affected by drought in 1991–92. For sheep (both areas combined; n = 28 in 10 flocks) the mean declared age of breeding females and the median age at first parturition were surprisingly high (6.1 years and 4 years respectively). Breeding female goats in the southern area were younger (4.9 vs. 6.4 years), and their age at first kidding was lower (3 years vs. 5 years), than in the north (n = 122 in 25 flocks total). These advanced ages could be an after-effect of the drought. Juvenile mortality and the proportions of young that were ultimately marketed were similar to what has been found elsewhere in semi-arid Africa. Breeding females were found to be smaller than their counterparts in semi-arid areas in West Africa with mean withers heights of 56.5 cm (n = 112 goats) and 60.4 cm (n = 36 sheep). Conditions in this area appear difficult for small ruminants and the populations sampled may be well adapted to marginal environments and thus worthy of conservation.

Resumé

Il manque encore de l'information sur les petits ruminants du secteur traditionnel de Zimbabwe. Des données zootechniques étaient recueillies sur les moutons Sabi (races à queue grasse) et sur les chèvres de race Small East African (variant de Zimbabwe), sous gestion traditionnelle dans deux aires du nord-est de Zimbabwe. Les tailles des échantillons étaient de 28 brébis en dix troupeaux, et de 122 chèvres, en 25 troupeaux. Les deux aires étaient séparées par 20 – 30 km de broussailles presque dépopulées. Dans les deux aires combinés, les brébis étaient assez âgées (6,1 ans), et l'âge du premier vêlage (4 ans) était bien avancé. Dans l'aire du sud, plus affecté par les sécheresses, les chèvres étaient moins âgées (4,9 cf 6,4 ans au nord) avec un âge au premier vêlage moins avancé (3 cf. 5 ans). Ces âges avancés étaient peut-être une conséquence de la sécheresse. Les taux de mortalité et de commercialisation des jeunes étaient de même ordre que ceux déjà observées en Afrique semi-aride. Les ovins et les caprins sont de moindre taille que leurs équivalents des zones semi-arides d'Afrique occidental (hauteurs au garrot, 56,5 cm; n = 112 chèvres; 60,4 cm; n = 36 brébis).

Keywords

Sabi sheepSmall East African goatProductivityTraditional managementSemi-arid Africa
Type
Research Articles
Information
Animal Genetic Resources/Resources génétiques animales/Recursos genéticos animales , Volume 26 , April 1999 , pp. 65 - 73
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 1999

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