Abstract:
This
study
was
carried
out
to
evaluate
some
indicators
of
reproductive
performance
of
sheep
and
goats
under
the
traditional
management
systems
in the
enclave
villages
of Zamfara
grazing
reserve,
north
- western
Nigeria,
A survey
was
first
conducted
to
determine
flock
size
and
composition
of
sheep
and
goats.
This
was
followed
hy
a monthly
performance
monitoring
study
between
June
2000
and
May
2001,
using
animals
from
ten
selected
households
each
in
the
north,
centre
and
south
of the
reserve,
Results
showed
that,
majority
offarmers
(64
0j,.)
kept
mixed
flocks
often
with
higher
flock
sizes.
Flock
size
pCI'
household
increased
significantly
(P<O.05)
from
6.9
in the
north
to 10.6
in the
south.
In
both
species,
breeding
females
accounted
for
means
of 49.0%
and
48.5'Y<.
respectively.
The
numbers
of
breeding
and
weaned
males
in
the
two
flocks
were
on
the
other
hand
very
low
across
the
zones,
with
means
of ~.()%
and
4.6%
in the
sheep,
and
1. 7%
and
3,4'Vo
in goats
respectively.
In
sheep,
except
for
body
weight
at first
lamhing
and
litter
size
at
parturitinn,
values
for
reproductive
performance
imli-
cators
differed.significantly
(P<0.05)
between
zones.
Ewes
in
the
central
zone
were
younger
at
first
lamhing
compared
to
those
in
the
north,
prolificacy
was
higher
in
the
north
and
south
compared
to
the
centre,
rate
of
multiple
births
was
higher
in the
south
compared
to the
north
and
pre-weaning
survival
of
lamhs
was
higher
in
the
north
compared
to the
centre.
In
goats,
except
for
age
at first
kidding,
values
for
reproductive
performance
indicators
differed
significantly
(P<O.05)
between
zones.
Docs
in the
southern
zone
were
heavier
at first
kidding
compared
to those
in the
north
and
centre,
litter
size
was
higher
in the
centre
and
south
compared
to the
north,
prolificacy
and
rate
of
multiple
births
were
highest
in the
south
and
least
in the
north
and
pre-weaning
survival
of kids
was
higher
in the
north
compared
to the
centre.
Frequencies
of lambing
and
kidding
were
higher
(P<O.05)
during
the
rainy
and
the
early
dry
seasons
compared
to the
late
dry
season.
The
animals
possess
some
pottential
for
increased
performance.
This
can
he
achieved
by
the
supply
of
adequate
feeding
throughout
the
year.
