– Genetic Analysis of Growth and Some Reproductive Traits of Sheep of Northern Nigeria and their Crosses –
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ABSTRACT
A total of 65 Yankasa, 23 Uda and 16 Balami ewes were mated to 4 Yankasa, 3 Uda and 3 Balami rams in a diallel breeding pattern to produce 192 lambs that were used to genetically analyse growth and some reproductive traits.
Weight records and linear body measurements were obtained from lambs at birth, 90-Day (weaning weight), 180- Day and 360-Day (yearling weight).
Blood samples (5 ml) were collected from all the ewes and rams used for the study.
The blood samples were subjected to cellulose acetate electrophoresis to obtain distinct bands of haemoglobin genotypes (AA, BB and AB). Daily growth of the lambs was calculated using average daily gain (ADG) and relative growth rate (RGR).
The haemoglobin type HbAB was the most predominant in the studied population and allele A of the haemoglobin type was the most numerous. Breed and haemoglobin types had significant (P<0.05) effect on lamb weight. Crossbred lambs of Yankasa rams and Uda ewes (YK X UD) were the heaviest at birth.
Pure Balami lambs were superior to all other lamb genotypes in body weight at 90 and 180-Day. The heaviest 360-Day weight (18.73±1.53 kg) was recorded for lambs of HbBB. The ADG and RGR of lambs were affected (P<0.05) by dam’s haemoglobin type, lamb genotype, type of birth and sex of lambs.
Yankasa rams and ewes produced lambs with the shortest gestation lengths (151.84±0.23 days and 151.85±0.20 days, respectively). The highest litter size was recorded in UD X YK or BL X UD crosses. All the lamb genotypes had very high mortality from 180 to 360 days.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE……………………………………… I
DECLARATION …………………………………………………………………………………………… II
CERTIFICATION………………………………………………………………………………………….III
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS……………………………………………………………………………… IV
ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………………………………………….. VII
TABLE OF CONTENTS ……………………………………………………………………………..VIII
LIST OF FIGURES……………………………………………………………………………………..XIV
LIST OF TABLES ……………………………………………………………………………………. XVII
LIST OF PLATES……………………………………………………………………………………….XXI
LIST OF APPENDICES ……………………………………………………………………………. XXII
CHAPTER ONE ……………………………………………………………………………………………..1
INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………………………………1
1.0 BACKGROUND INFORMATION………………………………………………………..1
1.1 STATEMENT OF RESEARCH PROBLEM ……………………………………………3
1.2 JUSTIFICATION OF RESEACH…………………………………………………………..3
1.3 GENERAL OBJECTIVE ……………………………………………………………………..5
1.4 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES……………………………………………………………………..5
CHAPTER TWO …………………………………………………………………………………………….6
LITERATURE REVIEW ………………………………………………………………………………….6
2.1 SHEEP IN ANIMAL AGRICULTURE…………………………………………………..6
CHAPTER THREE………………………………………………………………………………………..53
MATERIALS AND METHODS………………………………………………………………………53
3.1 EXPERIMENTAL LOCATION…………………………………………………………..53
3.2 ANIMALS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT …………………………………………..54
3.2.1 Housing……………………………………………………………………………………..54
3.2.2 Feeding ……………………………………………………………………………………..55
3.2.3 Health ……………………………………………………………………………………….56
3.3 SHEEP BREEDS AND BREEDING PLAN …………………………………………..56
3.3.1 Heat (estrus) Detection and Breeding Pattern …………………………………..56
3.4 BLOOD COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS……………………………………………58
CHAPTER FOUR………………………………………………………………………………………….68
4.1 RESULTS………………………………………………………………………………………..68
4.1.1 Diallel Breeding Pattern, Lamb Genotype and Dam’s
Haemoglobin Type…………………………………………………………………………………..68
4.1.2 Effect of Breed of Sire and Dam on Growth Traits ……………………………72
4.1.3 Effect of Lamb Genotype and Dam’s Haemoglobin
Type on Growth Traits ……………………………………………………………………………..75
4.1.4 Effect of Type of Birth and Sex of Lamb on Growth Traits ………………..78
4.1.5 Effect of Lamb Genotype on Linear Body Measurements of Lambs 82
CHAPTER FIVE………………………………………………………………………………………….142
5.0 DISCUSSION…………………………………………………………………………………142
5.1.1 Population of the Experimental Animal…………………………………………142
5.1.2 Frequency of Dam’s Haemoglobin Type ……………………………………….142
5.1.3 Effect of Breed of Sire and Dam on Growth Traits ………………………….143
5.1.4 Effect of Lamb Genotype on Growth Traits……………………………………143
5.1.5 Effect of Dam’s Haemoglobin Type on Growth Traits……………………..144
5.1.6 Effect of Type of Birth and Sex of Lambs on Growth Traits……………..145
5.1.7 Average Daily Gains (ADG) and Relative Growth Rate (RGR)…………146
4.1.8 Variability of Gestation Length and Litter Size……………………………….147
5.1.9 Mortality Rates of Sheep …………………………………………………………….149
5.1.10 Heritability Estimates for Growth Traits and Linear
Body Measurements of Yankasa Lambs …………………………………………………….151
5.1.11 Phenotypic and Genetic Correlation for Growth Traits
and Linear Measurements of Yankasa Lambs……………………………………………..151
5.1.12 Prediction of Body Weights using Linear Body Measurements…………153
CHAPTER SIX……………………………………………………………………………………………155
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS…………………………..155
6.1 SUMMARY……………………………………………………………………………………155
6.2 CONCLUSIONS……………………………………………………………………………..157
6.3 RECOMMENDATIONS ………………………………………………………………….158
REFERENCES…………………………………………………………………………………………….160
APPENDICES …………………………………………………………………………………………….193
INTRODUCTION
Genotypic variations between and within breeds are a great resource for the improvement of animals (Akpa et al., 2010).
Variations in the ability of one breed of domestic animals to perform better than the other in productive and reproductive traits arise from the combined effects of genetic components and adaptation to the prevailing environmental conditions in which such animals are being raised (Adebambo, 2003).
Adaptation enables individual animals to survive in the environment in which they are managed (Willmer et al., 2005; Van der Werf et al., 2009). Sheep breeds in various tropical agro-ecological zones have adapted to the prevailing climates having survived in such environment over many generations.
Wilson (1991) stated that there are some reasons in Africa to attempt an improvement of sheep by utilizing non-African breeds. However, the use of non-African breeds of sheep should be under ideal climatic or management conditions for such breeds.
REFERENCES
Abassa, K. P. (1995). Reproductive losses in small ruminants in Sub-Saharan Africa: A review. International Livestock Centre for Africa (ILCA) Working Document.
http://agtr.ilri.cgiar.org/library/docs/ReproductiveLosses/x5460e02.htm Accessed on 13/10/2011.Abdulwahid, S., Tajuddin, Z.A. and Matta, A.R. (1988). Sheep production and development in Malaysia. In: Proceedings of the workshop on sheep production in Asia. Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD), Los Banos, Laguna, Philippines. April 18-23, 1988. pp 151.
Abdussamad, A.M., Esievo, K.A.N. and Akpa, G.N. (2004). Haemoglobin types in the Nigerian Zebu and their crosses in Zaria. In: Proceedings of the 29th Annual Conference of the Nigerian Society for Animal Production. 21st – 25th March, 2004. Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, Nigeria. pp 31-37.
Abolude, C.F. (2002). Management of pre- and post-weaning lambs and kids. In: Manual of Small Ruminant Production Training Workshop. National Animal
Production Research Institute, Shika, Zaria. 13th – 18th Januray, 2002. pp 18.
StudentsandScholarship Team.
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