International Journal of
Livestock Production

  • Abbreviation: Int. J. Livest. Prod.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-2448
  • DOI: 10.5897/IJLP
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 290

Article in Press

Assessment of Sheep Production Systems and Marketing Practices in Meket and Gidan district, North Wollo Zone, Ethiopia

Tarekegn Demeke, Tesfaye Getachew and Elias Bayou

  •  Received: 12 December 2019
  •  Accepted: 03 September 2020
The study was conducted to generate comprehensive information on production systems, husbandry and marketing practices of indigenous sheep breed in Meket and Gidan district of North Wollo Zone, Ethiopia. The study was performed based on household survey. For household survey, 240 households (120 from each district) were involved. Qualitative data were analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Mixed crop livestock system was the main sheep production system in the study area. The survey revealed that the mean flock size was 13.63±0.89 in Meket and 10.72±0.54 in Gidan districts. The overall market age of male and female Sheep in the study area was 7.71 and 9.00 months, respectively. The main purpose of castration in the study area was to control breeding, to improve fattening potential, to keeping ram for meat purpose and for better temperament. The fattening duration of sheep in the study area was ranges from 30-90 days. The major feed sources in the study area were natural pasture, crop residue, and hay and crop aftermath. Pastrolosis, sheep pox and liver fluke were the most common Sheep disease that occurs in the stud area. In both study districts, diseases, frequent drought, feed and water shortage were the major sheep production constraints that affecets sheep production greatly. Therefore, this finding was put baseline for understanding about production and husbandry practices of sheep and serve as a base for designing a sustainable breeding programme and selection strategies in the study area.

Keywords: Indigenous sheep, production system, marketing system