Review of Sheep and Goat Research and Development in Egypt Since the Forties: II-Phenotypic Characteristics, Production, and Reproduction Performance of Local Sheep Breeds

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Animal Production Research Institute, Agriculture Research Canter, Cairo

Abstract

Egyptian local sheep breeds are widely spread over the country; raised mainly by   smallholders and contribute significantly to their livelihood. Local breeds are well adapted to the prevailing hot dry conditions, and limited feed resources. They are fat-tailed sheep, open coarse wool and raised mainly for meat and lamb production. There are four major sheep breeds in Egypt; Rahmani sheep  in north-Delta, Ossimi sheep  in Mid-Egypt, Barki sheep  in the Mediterranean coastal zone,  and Saidi sheep  in Upper Egypt. Minor local breeds are Fallahi,  Wahati, Abudeleik, and Suhagi sheep  located mainly in the south  and in  boarder governorates. Special and unique phenotypic characteristics are described for each breed. Production performance of the main local breeds include body weights, carcass quality, wool, and milk production, are tabulated as reported in the literature. Reproduction performance involving age at puberty, estrous, and breeding activity are discussed. Adaptability of local breeds to the prevailing subtropical  environment, specially heat stress  are   presented. Key issues as the   advantages   of the local breeds, within  the ongoing debate on breeding adapted law producing local animals, vs.  high producing low tolerant exogenous breeds are discussed. Improvement programs for local sheep breeds requires sort of nucleus flock structure, as breeders  association or village flocks, and the utilization of  the recent  findings of genomic analysis.

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