Effect of Crossbreeding Indigenous Sheep with Awassi and Corriedale Sires on Reproductive Performance under Smallholder Production System in Ethiopia
Tesfaye GETACHEW, Solomon GIZAW, Sisay LEMMA, Maria WURZINGER, Solomon ABEGAZ, Johann SÖLKNER
Pages: 187-191
Summary
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of crossbreeding on reproductive performance. A village based sheep crossbreeding project has been implemented since 1998 in three villages in the South Wollo, Menz and Chacha districts in Ethiopia. Crossbred rams (3/4 Awassi x 1/4 Local) were supplied to a group of farmers aiming to upgrading the indigenous genotype through backcrossing. The combined levels of location and genotype, year, season and parity had significant effects on the reproductive performance of ewes. Generally, local genotypes showed better (p
Keywords
Awassi; Corriedale; sheep; crossbreeding; reproductive performance; smallholder
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