Reproductive Performance of Bonga Sheep under Community Based Breeding Program: The Intermediate Result
The aim of this paper is to point up some reproductive parameters of Bonga sheep under farmer’s management in Adiyo-kaka district. A total of 3270 newborn lambs recorded between 2009 and 2013 GC in Boka-shuta farmers’ cooperative is used for this study. Data of reproductive performance concerning some traits are analyzed by descriptive analysis, while the remaining are presented on a percentage basis. Results comprise the findings from the reproductive studies on Bonga ewes and lambs over five years (2009-2013). The lambing interval (LI) and age at first lambing (AFL) of Bonga sheep were 8.5±1.6 and 14.6±2.5 months respectively, while annual reproductive rate, litter size, and lifetime lambing of the ewes were 1.9, 1.37, and 11.4 heads, respectively. The performance of the sheep breed was encouraging in general. However, traits like AFL and LI were longer and still need to be shortened for reproductive efficiency. Therefore, we recommend further within breed selection among the flock for desired reproductive traits to achieve a higher lamb crop with superior performance.
