Indigenous sheep resources of Ethiopia: Types, production systems and farmers preferences

Ethiopia has a diverse sheep population, numbering 23.6 million, in parallel with its diverse ecology, production systems and communities. A comprehensive phenotypic and genetic characterization of Ethiopian sheep populations was initiated in 2005 to provide a nationwide framework for the management...

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Main Authors: Gizaw, Solomon, Komen, Hans, Hanotte, Olivier H., Arendonk, Johan A.M. van
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Cambridge University Press 2008
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/70952
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author Gizaw, Solomon
Komen, Hans
Hanotte, Olivier H.
Arendonk, Johan A.M. van
author_browse Arendonk, Johan A.M. van
Gizaw, Solomon
Hanotte, Olivier H.
Komen, Hans
author_facet Gizaw, Solomon
Komen, Hans
Hanotte, Olivier H.
Arendonk, Johan A.M. van
author_sort Gizaw, Solomon
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Ethiopia has a diverse sheep population, numbering 23.6 million, in parallel with its diverse ecology, production systems and communities. A comprehensive phenotypic and genetic characterization of Ethiopian sheep populations was initiated in 2005 to provide a nationwide framework for the management of sheep genetic resources. In this paper, we describe the indigenous sheep types in terms of physical characteristics, eco-regional distribution and community affinity. We also present relationships of sheep types with agricultural production systems, and farmers'/pastoralists' assessment of their sheep types. Fourteen traditionally recognized sheep types were identified and physically described.The sheep types could be categorized into four groups (sub-alpine short-fat-tailed, highland long-fat-tailed, lowland fat-rumped and lowland thin-tailed) based on their ecological distribution, tail types (fat-tail versus thin-tail), tail form/shape, and fiber type. There is high morphological and ecological diversity among the major sheep groups as well as among the sheep types. There is also a strong relationship between sheep types, ethnic groups and production systems. Assessment of the genetic distinctiveness of the traditional sheep types is important for developing rational conservation-based improvement programs. Molecular genetic assessment of the population structure is a follow up activity.
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spelling CGSpace709522024-11-15T08:52:34Z Indigenous sheep resources of Ethiopia: Types, production systems and farmers preferences Gizaw, Solomon Komen, Hans Hanotte, Olivier H. Arendonk, Johan A.M. van sheep animal production breeds farmers production Ethiopia has a diverse sheep population, numbering 23.6 million, in parallel with its diverse ecology, production systems and communities. A comprehensive phenotypic and genetic characterization of Ethiopian sheep populations was initiated in 2005 to provide a nationwide framework for the management of sheep genetic resources. In this paper, we describe the indigenous sheep types in terms of physical characteristics, eco-regional distribution and community affinity. We also present relationships of sheep types with agricultural production systems, and farmers'/pastoralists' assessment of their sheep types. Fourteen traditionally recognized sheep types were identified and physically described.The sheep types could be categorized into four groups (sub-alpine short-fat-tailed, highland long-fat-tailed, lowland fat-rumped and lowland thin-tailed) based on their ecological distribution, tail types (fat-tail versus thin-tail), tail form/shape, and fiber type. There is high morphological and ecological diversity among the major sheep groups as well as among the sheep types. There is also a strong relationship between sheep types, ethnic groups and production systems. Assessment of the genetic distinctiveness of the traditional sheep types is important for developing rational conservation-based improvement programs. Molecular genetic assessment of the population structure is a follow up activity. 2008-04 2016-02-08T09:07:59Z 2016-02-08T09:07:59Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/70952 en Limited Access Cambridge University Press
spellingShingle sheep
animal production
breeds
farmers
production
Gizaw, Solomon
Komen, Hans
Hanotte, Olivier H.
Arendonk, Johan A.M. van
Indigenous sheep resources of Ethiopia: Types, production systems and farmers preferences
title Indigenous sheep resources of Ethiopia: Types, production systems and farmers preferences
title_full Indigenous sheep resources of Ethiopia: Types, production systems and farmers preferences
title_fullStr Indigenous sheep resources of Ethiopia: Types, production systems and farmers preferences
title_full_unstemmed Indigenous sheep resources of Ethiopia: Types, production systems and farmers preferences
title_short Indigenous sheep resources of Ethiopia: Types, production systems and farmers preferences
title_sort indigenous sheep resources of ethiopia types production systems and farmers preferences
topic sheep
animal production
breeds
farmers
production
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/70952
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AT hanotteolivierh indigenoussheepresourcesofethiopiatypesproductionsystemsandfarmerspreferences
AT arendonkjohanamvan indigenoussheepresourcesofethiopiatypesproductionsystemsandfarmerspreferences