Management Practices and Body Characteristics of Sudan Desert Sheep (Hamari type) raised on Range Conditions: A Case Study, North Kordofan, Sudan

Abstract

The production potential of Hamari sheep, particularly flock size, structure, and management practices under range condition were investigated in Geibash locality, North Kordofan state, Sudan. The flock size was of three types, small (56), medium (156), and large (403) head. Breeding females constituted 50 % of the flock, breeding male ranged from 3 to 5 %, castrates represented 21.5 to 23 % in small and medium flocks and 31 % in large ones. Suckling lambs ranged from 5 to 7 %, while weaned lambs constituted 3 to 8 % in the different flocks. Management practices included, weaning, castration, and branding of young lambs, which were done at the third month of age. Castration practice was to control breeding and for fattening of castrates. The main methods used were crushing of spermatic cords between two wood rods (92.1 %); and the Burdizzo 7.9 %, branding animal was done mainly by fire, and ear cutting. Feeding depended mainly on natural pasture. Live weight of Hamari sheep ranged from 35.03 ± 0.97 to 60.94 ± 2.01 kg for milk teeth to three pairs of permanent incisors. The mean weight of mature males was greater than that of mature females. Body measurements showed progressive increase with age and sex appeared to have significant effect on these parameters. The study recommended abandoning breeding control practice and allowing ewes to breed all year round, in addition to feed supplement during mating and late pregnancy.