Abstract

The study was carried out in the southern part of River Nile State in North Sudan to study sheep production practices adopted by sheep owners in the state, the study was conducted from June to October 2018. A total of 75 sheep owners from different households were investigated using questionnaire. The questionnaire focus on personal household data, herd composition, rearing systems, flock feeding and flock management including practices in productive and reproductive traits and production. The results were summarized in descriptive tables and graphs as multiple response analysis, also analysis of variance ANOVA followed by least significant difference (LSD) were used. The results revealed that the majority of sheep owners (94.7%) were above 25 years old (P < 0.01) and 61.3% had experience above 15 years in raising animals, around 80% of sheep owners were illiterate or had basic education “Khalwa”. Northern riverine wool sheep (NRWS) is the most abundant type in the study area. Animals mainly raised in open range system and semi sedentary (69%), fed on natural range and different concentrates. The results showed significant differences (P < 0.05) in weaning age and ram production age among NRWS, Ashgar and Abrag sheep subtypes and recorded the highest value in the most studied productive and reproductive traits. The major priority selection criteria of ewes and rams were size - feature while the main culling criterion was overage for both ewes and rams, low productivity rises in the second rank of culling criteria in ewes, whereas, sexual performance come in the second rank in rams. Both adult’s sheep and lambs suffering from internal and external parasites as the most recurrent diseases. Shortage in feed, diseases and security were main production handicaps of sheep production. Extensive and semi-extensive system were most practiced systems. The study concludes that other desert sheep subtypes were found in the study area beside NRWS. Shortage feed, diseases and security were the main production constrains of sheep production in the study area.

Keywords:Ashgar Sheep; Flock Management; Natural Range; Lamping Season; Sudan

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