Sheep and Goat Breeds and Production in Ethiopia PDF

 7.1. Sheep and goat breeds and methods of selection Indigenous sheep and goat genetic resources have developed specific adaptations to survive and produced under adverse environmental conditions These are:- Climatic stresses, poor quality feed, seasonal feed, w...

 7.1. Sheep and goat breeds and methods of selection Indigenous sheep and goat genetic resources have developed specific adaptations to survive and produced under adverse environmental conditions These are:- Climatic stresses, poor quality feed, seasonal feed, water shortage, endemic disease, and parasite challenge  Indigenous sheep breeds The sheep found in Ethiopia are classified into different breeds and types. The habitats of sheep range from tropical to temperate environments.  Key terms Does: mature female goats Buck: When male lamb (young sheep) reaches 1 year old, they become known as bucks unless they are castrated. Ewe are mature adult female sheep. Ram is a male sheep aged over 12 months. Lamb: sheep under the age of 12 months.  Menz Sheep breed The natural habitat is North Shewa and parts of Wello zone of the Amhara region. woolbearing sheep in Ethiopia. Shearing is done twice a year and the yield is 1 - 1.6 kg. Rams mostly have twisted horns while ewes are usually hornless. The tail is short and fat. The weight is about 2.3 kg at birth, 11 kg weaning (90 days) and 26 -30 kg, at one-year of age. Ewe’s mature weight is estimated to be about 35 kg. Twin births are common and the incidence sometimes reaches 60%.  Afar (or Adali) sheep breed This is a small-sized breed with mature weight ranging from 30 - 35 kg. The natural habitat of the breed is the Middle Awash Valley in eastern Ethiopia. This extends as far as Dire Dawa in the east and the town of Bati in the north. The Afar sheep are hardy; can tolerate drought The Afar sheep have small ears. The fat tail has a wide base and reaches below the hocks. The hair is short and coarse. Afar sheep weigh about 2.5 kg at birth, 13 kg at weaning (90 days), and 25.8 kg at one year of age. The mature weight of ewe is about 31.6 kg. Twin births are not common.  7.1.2. Indigenous Goat Breeds The Ethiopian goat breeds are classified into four family based on the origin, body size (small, medium, or large), ear shape (long, short or lop) function (meat, milk or skin)  Afar Goat Breed The Afar goat is also referred to as the Adali and Danakil goat. Its natural habitat is the Afar Region, but it can also be found in northern and western Hararghe Its distribution extends to Eritrea and Djibouti. Afar goats are well adapted to arid environment they are watered every three or four days. The breed is known for being leggy. Both males and females are horned. Most males have beards (facial hair) while wattles (a fleshy caruncle hanging on nake) could appear in both males and females.  Mean height at the shoulders is 64.5 cm for adult male goat (buckes) and 60 cm for female goat (does). Afar goats are milked for domestic use or sale. The goats are maintained for meat, milk, and skin production and social affairs as they are commonly given away as dowry (Gift at weeding)  Arsi-Bale Goats Breed The Arsi-Bale goats are widely distributed covering the whole  of Arsi,  Bale and  western Hararghe zones  and in high-altitude areas of Sidama. Males have curved and backward pointed horns. Females mostly have shorter horns. Some males have ruffs (Goffer) while most have beards. Arsi-Bale goats have fairly long ears, and some of them have pendulous ears. Mean height at the shoulders is 73.2 cm for adult male and 66.1 cm for female goats. The body weight ranges from 30 - 42 kg.  7.1.3. Exotic Sheep and Goat Breeds There are various sheep and goat breeds that are globally known for their meat, milk, and wool production. Some of these breeds have been imported to Ethiopia to improve meat and wool production of the indigenous breeds, particularly the Menz sheep. This includes Merino, Corriedale, Rommeny, Hampshire, and Bleu du Maine. Awassi and Corriedale sheep breeds are recognized for their meat production. Similarly, exotic goat breeds, namely, the Anglo- Nubian, Brown Alpine, Nera Verzasca, Saanen and Toggenburg are well- known worldwide.  Awassi Sheep Breed Awassi sheep are widely distributed in the Middle East with a range covering Israel, southwest Iran, and southern Iraq, Syria and northeast Arabia. These are fat-tailed sheep known mainly for their meat and coarse wool along with dairy potential. The average traditionally maintained mature weight is between 40 and 50 kg. Rams have large horns and ewes are polled. The average ewe has single lactations over 300 liters per 210- day of lactation. The breed is calm around people, easy to work with and easily milked.  The breed is well-suited to a grazing production system as well as a confinement operation. The Awassi has a brown face and legs with fleece (skin) varying in color from brown to white. Individuals can also be found with black, white, grey, or spotted faces. The fleece is mostly carpet type with a varying degree of hair. Dorper Sheep Breed The Dorper is a meat breed developed in South Africa. It is a crossbred between the Dorset Horn and Blackhead Persian breeds. distributed in some African countries such as Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Kenya. Also found in North America and other countries around the world.  Dorper sheep are black head and neck with a white body. relatively big and ewes under a favorable environment weigh about 60 kg. Dorper sheep are fast-growing. The breed is well adapted to dry They are known environments and is well-suited for their good to a wide range of production meat production. systems.  Boer Goat Breed The Boer goat was developed in South Africa through crossing Africander, South African Common, indigenous Baitus, European, Angora, and Indian blood. Boer goats are medium to large, 75-80 cm in height at the shoulders. Male and female Boer goats weigh up to 130 and 80 kg, respectively. The coat color is white with red or brown on the head and neck. The hair is short and shiny. Boer goats have horns and large drooping ears.  Anglo-Nubian Goat Breed is a dual-purpose breed known for both meat and milk production. The breed was developed through the crossing of Jamnapari (Indian) and Zaraiby (Egypt) Anglo Nubians are large, with does well-adapted to tropical weighing at least 64 kg. environments and was introduced to Ethiopia The average height of the breed, through FARM-Africa to measured at the withers, is 81 cm upgrade Hararghe for does and 94 cm for bucks. highland goats for milk production.  Breed selection methods Different breeds have different environmental adaptability. Animals which have evolved within a certain area are usually better adapted to that area Therefore, it is wise to make use of such animals in improvement programs. In such programs, productivity improvement should come through selection and better management.  Introduction of other animals (breeds) may be considered if their own - or that of their crosses with local breeds – adaptability to the area is proven and if their performance shows clear superiority to local animals Comparisons need to be made in the actual environment in which the animals will be raised. Comparisons must be thorough not only lifetime production but also their  reproductive, mortality and Morbidity (illness) rates  7.2. Sheep and Goat Feeds and Feeding There are two main classes of feedstuff: roughages and concentrates. Sheep and goats differ in their feeding habits. Selection and intake of forage depends not only on the available plant resources but it also on the feeding behavior of animals. Knowledge of feeding habits is important in improving sheep and goat nutrition.  Goats prefer to consume a wide variety of feedstuffs. Goats are more selective and browse more than sheep. The potential for goats to select their feed is reduced under intensive management.  Feed Resources for Sheep and Goats Natural grazing land is the predominant feed source for sheep and goats in Ethiopia. Very little land is planted specifically for pastures or forage crops. This is especially true for the pastoral and agro- pastoral areas. Grazing areas are usually communally owned. Crop residues and agro-industrial by-products represent a large proportion of feed resources in the mixed crop-livestock system. Reliance on crop residues for animal feed is ever- increasing as more land is cropped to feed the fast- growing human population.  The nutrient requirement of sheep and goats depends on their physiological state and function. Maintenance and production are also needs to be considered Specific nutrient requirements for sheep and goats in Ethiopia are not developed. The overall nutrient requirements of a particular sheep or goat are the sum of its maintenance requirement and other physiological functions (e.g., pregnancy, growth, lactation etc.).  Requirements for lactation depend on the level of milk production and its composition. The nutrient requirement for pregnancy rises substantially during the last two months of gestation. It is particularly high if the dam (female parent) is carrying twins or triplets. There is a need to increase nutrient content of the diet during this period to prevent low birth weights and/or serious loss of body condition by the dam.  Strategies for ensuring appropriate nutrition of sheep and goats include: Matching sheep and goat production systems to available feed resources. Introducing more efficient use of agricultural and industrial by-products Encouraging increased intake.  7.3. Sheep and goat housing Housing should be  light,  well ventilated,  well drained,  protective and easily cleaned. Having an appropriate design for sheep and goat housing is a crucial priority to beginning construction. The design of all housing can include  floor plan,  walls,  roofing,  Feeding (hay racks),  watering troughs and  other additional facilities like,  sorting pens,  lambing/kidding unit,  hospital area,  dips/spray races, and  foot baths.  7.3.1. Types of housing 1. Ground level housing is common in most parts of the tropics, particularly in semi- arid and sub-tropical regions where rainfall is not excessive. Leanto type: shed is attached to existing buildings with height of 2-3 m and sloping to 1-1.5 m. A lean-to is a type of simple structure originally added to an existing building with the rafters "leaning" against another wall. Free-standing lean-to structures are generally used as shelters. Single buildings are used for larger flock sizes. In more modern houses, double cone roofing is used to increase ventilation. 2. Stilted housing The floor should rise 1.5 m above ground level to facilitate easy cleaning and collection of dung and urine. Such type of housing provides good ventilation. This is commonly seen in high rainfall areas in Asia. TStilt houses (also called pile dwellings or lake dwellings) are houses raised on stilts (or piles) over the surface of the soil or a body of water.  3. Corals This type of housing practice is greatly used in Central America for large flock of small ruminants (500-2000) that are reared under extensive (wide) conditions. The roof should be sloped to drain runoff to the rear of the structure, and should be situated where drainage is not a problem. This is usually designed for goats  (aproximately 1.5 - 1.8 meters tall at the front and measuring 1 to 1.2 meters tall at the rear side).  7.3.2. Housing Designs Floor plan: The space requirement of the animals influences the design of the floor. The suggested requirements for different production system for sheep and goats are given in the following Table 7.4. Space requirements vary depending on whether animals are kept in individual or group pens. The space requirement also varies with the size of animals, i.e., bigger animals require larger space than the smaller ones.  Roof: The roof is important as it protects animals against the sun and rain. The under-surface of the roof should remain cool and watertight. To ensure adequate ventilation, the height of the roof and the design should be considered.  Walls: In warm climates, walls are partially open to allow movement of air through the house. In some cases, however, complete walling is needed to keep out predators.  7.4. Major Diseases and Parasites of Sheep and Goat and Methods of Their Control Serious outbreaks of sheep and goat diseases common in Ethiopia. , such as  sheep and goat pox,  contagious caprine pleuropneumonia CCPP),  peste des petits ruminants (PPR),  Foot and mouth disease (FMD),  pasteurellosis and anthrax are All cause significant production losses. Production losses resulting from disease outbreaks are still significant but are lower than those caused by poor nutrition and internal parasites. Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CCPP): CCPP is a per-acute, acute, or chronic contagious disease of goats. It affects the respiratory system. Infection occurs through direct contact between goats. The disease is widely distributed in the Rift Valley and lowland parts of the country Maedi-visna is a highly infectious viral disease affecting goats and sheep. It is mainly transmitted through the ingestion of milk from a virus infected sheep, The occurrence of Maedi-visna in Ethiopia was reported in imported sheep in 1986 at Agarfa, Bale. The main clinical signs are progressive paralysis, wasting, arthritis and chronic mastitis Rift Valley Fever (RVF) is a viral infection of ruminants and humans. Animals become sick with RVF 1-5 days after infection. Animals are infected when bitten by infected mosquitoes. The occurrence of this disease interrupts export market of live sheep and goats. Sheep and goat pox Is occurs in both sheep and goats. It is very severe in young animals. Some young sheep and goats die before showing signs of the disease. The disease spreads by direct contact between animals and contaminated materials. 7.4.2. Common Parasites: Sheep and Goats External parasites The common external parasites for sheep and goats are: Ticks, lice, sheep ked, mites, Psoropticovis- the sheep scab mite, Sarcopticovis, flies. Internal parasites Categorized into four groups according to their location in the animal. ƒAbomasal worms - nematodes (round worms)  Ruminant stomachs have four compartments: the rumen, the reticulum, the omasum and the abomasum. ƒLiver flukes - trematodes (leaf-like worms);- Liver flukes infect the liver, gallbladder, and bile duct in humans.  Intestinal worms -cestodes (tape worms) ƒProtozoa (coccidia)  7.4.3. Strategies of Disease Control Quarantine: Quarantine is the isolation of animals that are either infected or suspected of being infected with a disease or diseases. Vaccination: Vaccines are used routinely to prevent diseases. – Parasturellosis, sheep and goat pox, Anthrax, Control of biological vectors: insects, birds, rodents, etc. can be controlled by eliminating them Disinfestation of fomites: farm equipment, surgical instruments, etc., used with animals. Disease prevention: Preventing disease is much more effective than trying to cure sick animals. Drenching and spraying: Spraying or dipping of animals is needed to reduce external parasites during periods of high infestation  7.5. Sheep and Goat Meat and Milk Production and Processing 7.5.1. Meat Production and Processing Meat is the most important product of small ruminants in tropical countries. Small ruminant meat is often used for celebrations. Therefore, the value of a live goat/sheep is often higher than the separate parts. Very important criteria to take into consideration for meat production are  growth rate  total number  efficiency of production  Looking at the quality of meat  the quantity  distribution of fat.  Slaughtering Sheep and Goats The stunning methods grouped in two categories: mechanical and electrical. The mechanical techniques include penetrative and non‐penetrative captive bolt stunning and using percussive blows to the head and firearms with free projectiles. Electrical methods include head‐only and head‐to‐body stunning. Sheep and goats are often slaughtered at home for consumption at family gatherings, ceremonial meals, or religious celebrations. Safe food handling practices must be used during home slaughter and processing Sanitation procedures are summarized below: start with a clean animal; it is also best if the animal has been held off feed overnight. The animal should always have access to water that addresses animal welfare concerns. Clean and sanitize the work area before starting work. Wash and sanitize hands; put on disposable gloves if desired. Sanitize the knife and hands between steps, drying with a paper towel afterward. Do not allow the hair side of the hide to touch the meat. Wash and sanitize hands that have been in contact with the outside of the hide before touching the meat.  If a sheep or goat carcass will not be consumed immediately and there is a place to chill and store the carcass at less than 4°C, it will be useful to age the carcass for 3 to 7 days to increase tenderness, especially if a dry heat cooking method will be used. Meat can be wrapped and frozen at less than 0 °C for longer periods of storage. Promote food safety by always keeping hot foods hot (above 63°C) cold foods (below 4 °C) and refrigerating leftovers at 4 °C or below promptly. Meat processing in sheep and goat also include physical and chemical treatments  7.5.2. Milk Production and Processing Sheep’s milk production is reported in only a few countries in the tropics. Compared to sheep milk, goat milk is commonly used. Under very favorable conditions the best sheep can produce 2.5 liters of milk per day, but 1.0 liter per day is regarded as excellent. In tropical environments, milk yields of 0.3 liter per ewe per day are more common (50 liters in a 100-day lactation).  Some sheep breeds can produce more than 1000 kg milk in one lactation and several goat breeds more than 2000 kg milk, The best goat breed for milk production has been capable of producing 10 kg of milk per day Compared to cow’s milk, sheep’s milk has high solids content and is more concentrated in fat and protein. Goat milk contains less lactose, but its fat content is also much simpler for human digestion than cow milk.  The fundamental milk processing techniques involves Receiving milk filtering standardizing pasteurizing chilling packing Storing distributing Sheep and goat milk can successfully be made into cheese, yoghurt, butter, and ghee. Sheep’s milk produces especially high yields of cheese per liter of milk.