A H Sulieman1
A R Sayers2
R T Wilson3
1 El-Huda National Sheep Research Station, Managil, Gezira, Sudan2 Computer Unit, International Livestock Centre for Africa, PO Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
3 Small Ruminant Research Network, International Livestock Centre for Africa, PO Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
ILCA Research Report No. 18
International Livestock Centre for Africa
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
October 1990
Based on work undertaken by:
El-Huda National Sheep Research Station, Animal Production Research Administration, Ministry of Livestock Resources, Sudan; and the International Livestock Centre for Africa, Ethiopia.
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Correct citation: Sulieman A H. Sayers A R and Wilson R T. 1990. Evaluation of Shugor, Dubasi and Watish subtypes of Sudan Desert sheep at the El-Huda National Sheep Research Station, Gezira Province, Sudan. ILCA Research Report 18. ILCA (International Livestock Centre for Africa), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 38 pp.
ORIGINAL: ENGLISH
October 1990
ABSTRACT
Data on Shugor, Dubasi and Watish subtypes of Sudan Desert sheep, collected at El-Huda National Sheep Research Station, Sudan, in the period 1975-84, are analysed. There were subtype differences in weights of ewes at first conception, at first parturition and at weaning of the first lamb(s) at 120 days after first parturition, the Watish being lighter than the other two subtypes. There were no differences among subtypes in age at first lambing (689 days). Litter size was bigger in Shugor (1.30) than in Watish (1.17) or Dubasi (1.18) subtypes, but lambing interval was shorter in Watish (403 days) than in Dubasi (425 days) or Shugor (449 days) subtypes. Annual reproductive rate (lambs born per ewe per year) was higher in Shugor (1.18) than in Watish (1.14) or Dubasi (1.01) subtypes. Shugor and Dubasi sheep were generally heavier from birth to one year than Watish. Some Watish crossbreds exhibited heterosis in weight and growth. From 365 to 1095 days weights did not differ among subtypes. Postpartum weights of mature Watish ewes were longer (37.0 kg) than those of either Dubasi (42.2 kg) or Shugor (42.3 kg) subtypes at all parturitions. Watish had longer death rates to weaning (29.7%) than either Shugor (40.5%) or Dubasi (42.6%) subtypes. Productivity indices were 16.8 kg of young weaned (et 120 days) per ewe per year, 419 g of young weaned per kg ewe per year and 1.14 kg of young weaned per kg0,73 ewe per year and did not differ among subtypes. Effects of dam origin (station-bore or foundation), type of birth or parturition (single or twin), sex, season and year of birth or parturition and parity were also examined.
KEY WORDS
/Sudan//Sudan Desert sheep//sheep//productivity//reproductivity//animal performance/-/lambing//lambing interval//ewes//body weight//growth rate//mortality/
RESUME
Les travaux présentés ici reposent sur l'analyse de données rassemblées de 1975 à 1984 à la station nationale de recherche d'EI-Huda (Soudan) sur des ovins Shugor, Dubasi et Watish, trois sous-espèces du mouton Sudan Desert. Le poids de la brebis à la première conception, au premier agnelage et au sevrage du (des) premier(s) agneau(x) (120 jours après la première parturition) dépendait de la sous-espèce, les Watish venant toujours en dernière position. En revanche, l'âge à la première parturition (689 jours) était indépendant de la sous-espèce considérée. La portée des Shugor (1,30) était supérieure à celles des Watish (1,17) et des Dubasi (1,18) mais l'intervalle entre agnelages des Watish (403 jours) était plus court que celui des Dubasi (425 jours) ou des Shugor (449 jours). Le taux de reproduction, c'est-à-dire le nombre de naissances par femelle et par an, était plus élevé pour les Shugor (1,18) que pour les Watish (1,14) et les Dubasi (1,01). Par ailleurs, de la naissance à l'âge de I an, le poids des Shugor et des Dubasi était généralement supérieur à celui des Watish. Chez certains métis Watish, on avait enregistré un accroissement pondéral et une accélération du rythme de croissance dus à l'hétérosis. De l'âge de 365 jours à l'âge de 1095 jours, le poids vif de l'animal ne différait pas d'une sous-espèce à l'autre. En outre, le poids postpartum des Watish adultes (37,0 kg) était plus faible que celui de leurs congénères Dubasi (42,2 kg) ou Shugor (42,3 kg). En revanche, jusqu'au sevrage, le taux de mortalité des Watish (29, 7%) était plus faible que celui des Shugor (40,5%) ou des Dubasi (42,6%). Les indices de productivité étaient indépendants de la sous-espèce, s'établissant à 16,8 kg de poids vif d'agneau sevré (à 120 jours) par femelle et par an, à 419 g de poids vif d'agneau sevré par kg de poids vif de la femelle et par an et à 1,14 kg de poids vif d'agneau sevré par kg0,73 de poids vif de la femelle. Enfin, ces travaux ont également permis d'étudier l'effet, sur les performances, de l'origine de la femelle (selon qu'elle est née à la station ou qu'elle fait partie des animaux fondateurs), du type de naissance (simple ou multiple), du sexe de l'agneau ainsi que de la saison, de l'année et du rang de la parturition.
MOTS CLES
/Soudan//Mouton Sudan Desert//Mouton//Productivité//Reproduction//Performances//Agnelage//Intervalle entre agnelages//Brebis//Poids vif//Taux de croissance//Mortalité/.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors are grateful to the Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Animal Resources and to the Animal Production Research Administration of the Government of the Republic of Sudan for permission to handle, analyse and publish the sheep performance records collected at El-Huda National Sheep Research Station during the years 1975 to 1984.
Computer analysis facilities and travel and subsistence expenses for the senior author of this report were provided by the International Livestock Centre for Africa.
We thank the staff of El-Huda National Sheep Research Station who have assisted in the completion of this work, including Dr Abd Alla Khalid El-Toum, Dr Adam G. Osman, Dr Sidig El-Mahul, Ahmed K. El-Tahir, Salah Abdu El-Salam and Mohammed Nour Mohammed Ahmed.
At ILCA Solomon Zewdie assisted with computer analysis, Aster Araya cleaned and verified the data and Selamawit Dominique and Azeb Melaku were as patient and efficient as usual in preparing the various drafts of this Research Report.
This electronic document has been scanned using optical character recognition (OCR) software and careful manual recorrection. Even if the quality of digitalisation is high, the FAO declines all responsibility for any discrepancies that may exist between the present document and its original printed version.
Sudan's sheep population
Tribal subtypes of Sudan desert sheep (figure 1)
El-Huda National Sheep Research Station
Flock management
Data collection and initial preparation
Statistical analysis
Body measurements
Reproductive performance
Weight and growth
Offtake and mortality
Productivity indices
4. Conclusions and recommendations
Conclusions
Recommendations
The consultative group on international agricultural research