Evaluation of morphological differences, structural indices of Arsi-Bale Sheep Breeds and breeding practices of the communities in selected districts of Arsi and Bale Zones, Oromia, Ethiopia

The study was conducted in two districts of Arsi and Bale zones, with the objectives to assess morph metrical differentiation and structural indices for Arsi-Bale sheep breed and to assess sheep breeding and husbandry practices of the communities in the Study Area. The study involved both qualitative and quantitative type of research. A total of 90 indigenous sheep owning farmers for survey and only mature 200 sheep (36 male and 164 non pregnant females) were taken for qualitative and quantitative study. Descriptive statistics, frequency procedures, general linear model, and multivariate analysis were used with SAS 2008(version 9.1.3) to analyze the data. SPSS 2016 (version 20) was used to analyze qualitative data. The study result revealed that the mean flock size of sheep holding per household was 8.02 ± 4.46 and 7.13 ± 3.33 for Lemu Bilbilo and Sinana districts respectively. Households of the respondents reported that the primary reason for keeping sheep in the study area was to generate income followed by insurance for risk, meat for home consumption, and saving. The main feed sources of sheep in the study area were sheep grazed on communal grazing during dry season and grazed separately during wet season with seasonal/conditional feed supplementation. All of the respondents in the study area provided house and water for their sheep. The major sheep production constraints in study area were feed and market with primary rank followed by Disease, Predator, and Labor shortage. Concerning breeding practice most of sheep owner do not have breeding ram. Lambing interval of ewes were 5.86 ± 0.54 and 6.26 ± 0.78 months in Sinana and Lemu Bilbilo respectively. Large body size, red coat color, long and straight tail for males are the most preferred traits in the study area. Similarly, size, color and tail formation were the most highly rated traits in selecting breeding females in both districts. Lambing interval, mothering ability, age at first lambing and twining rate were also considered in selecting breeding female. The mean body measurement of Lemu Bilbilo ewes for Heart girth, body length, and height at wither and height at rump were75.55 ± 6.078cm, 77.65 ± 3.914cm, 68.32 ± 3.671cm, 70.63 ± 2.531cm respectively. The corresponding mean values for males in the same district were 78.44 ± 2.684cm, 77.72 ± 5.839cm, 72.56 ± 2.357cm, 71.5 ± 2.479cm, respectively. For Sinana female sheep, the value in the same order were 75.9 ± 3.905cm, 69.65 ± 9.219cm, 67.38 ± 3.886cm, 66.71 ± 2.791cm. The value of the measurements for the male, were 78.33 ± 2.97cm, 78.33 ± 3.63cm, 70.78 ± 4.373cm, 68.83 ± 4.204cm respectively,. Morphometric measurements indicated that significant differences (P