BREED AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AFFECTING BODY WEIGHT OF NIGERIAN SHEEP

Abstract

In Nigeria, sheep are managed mainly under the traditional free-range system in which little or no information is available on factors affecting their productivity. The study was conducted to investigate the body weights of four Nigerian sheep breeds (Balami, Uda, West African Dwarf ie WAD and Yankasa), at various ages and the non genetic factors affecting them. Weights of 156 lambs (33 Balami, 34 Uda, 43 WAD, 47 Yankasa) were measured at birth, days 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 270 and 360 over three years and analyzed using general linear model of SPSS version 22.0. Generally, body weights in Balami and Uda were higher than in Yankasa while WAD had the lowest. Males were heavier than females from weaning to adulthood. Single born lambs were heavier than multiples from birth to 150 days. Parity affected only birth weight where 3rd parity lambs were heavier that earlier ones. Season and year did not influence weight. Knowledge of factors that affect production traits such as these and correction of records for environmental factors could aid estimated genetic parameters and breeding value to reflect animal's genetic potential.