Abstract

A flock monitoring study was conducted in Wolaita zone, Damot gale and Damote sore districts and Siltie zone, Mirab Azernet district with the objectives of evaluating the reproductive and productive performance of Dorper sheep and to determine the current production systems. Data was collected from November 2013 to April according to Kaufmann case histories format and were subjected to general linear models (GLM) procedure of SAS. The fixed factors considered were breed, districts, season, birth type and lambing year. Mean birth weight, weaning weight, weaning age, market age, market weight, litter size, age at first lambing and sexual maturity for Dorper sheep were 2.25±1.72 kg, 17.30±0.98 kg, 3.16±0.55 months, 12.66±1.39 months, 30.66±3.26 kg, 1.48±0.71, 11.81±1.37 months and 5±0.74 months, respectively. Location, season, birth type, parity, sex and blood group had significantly (P<0.05) affected weaning weight. Season had influence on weaning age. Pre-weaning mortality rate of Dorper sheep was 2.93% and lower in Wolaita than Siltie zone. In Siltie, rather than Wolaita zone Dorper sheep was housing in the separate house. Housing Dorper sheep in separate house was good practice, so sharing the practice for the others through training, experience share and field trip should be needed. Further study is needed to characterize meat quality and carcass yield percentages from locally available feeds of Dorper sheep in the area.

Key words: Adaptability, crosses, Dorper, husbandry, performance, Ethiopia.