NON-GENETIC FACTORS INFLUENCING REPRODUCTIVE TRAITS AND PRE-WEANING MORTALITY OF LAMBS AND KIDS UNDER SMALLHOLDER MANAGEMENT, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA
G. Deribe, G. Abebe*, and A. Tegegne**
Southern Agricultural Research Institute, Areka, P.O. Box 79, Ethiopia
*Department of Animal and Range Sciences, P. O.Box 5, Hawassa University
**International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), P.O.Box5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Corresponding author: deribeg2000@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to evaluate effects of non-genetic factors on litter size, age at first parturition (AFP), parturition interval (PI), seasonality of parturition, and pre-weaning mortality rate of sheep and goats flock with 587 kids and 467 lambs owned by 60 households. The litter size, AFP and PI (months) of lambs were 1.52+0.04, 12.43+0.1, 9.19+0.08, respectively, while the corresponding values were 1.47+0.04, 11.95+0.13 and 9.05+0.08 for kids. The average pre-weaning mortality rate was 14.84 and 12.59% for lambs and kids, respectively. Ewes of parity three had (p <0.05) higher litter size than parity one. Does having parity four and five had (p <0.05) higher litter size than parity three while does and ewes having parity three had (p <0.05) higher litter size than parity one. Site and season influenced litter size (p <0.5) and pre-weaning mortality of (p <0.01) lambs and kids. Birth weight (p <0.05) and parity influenced (p <0.01) pre-weaning kid mortality. To exploit reproductive potential of dams and enhance rural income from small ruminants, improved management measures have to be warranted.
Key words:Litter size, Kids, Lambs, Non-genetic factors,Parturition, Southern Ethiopia
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