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UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF THAMARI SHEEP IN YEMEN ABDULLAH ALI ABDULLAH AL-NOKHAIF FP 2009 19
UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA
GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF THAMARI SHEEP IN YEMEN
ABDULLAH ALI ABDULLAH AL-NOKHAIF
FP 2009 19
GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF THAMARI SHEEP IN YEMEN
ABDULLAH ALI ABDULLAH AL-NOKHAIF
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA
2009
GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF THAMARI SHEEP IN YEMEN
By
ABDULLAH ALI ABDULLAH AL-NOKHAIF
Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia,
in fulfilment of the Requiement for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
July 2009
DEDICATION
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
(وما توفيقي اال باهللا رب العالمين)
All praise to Almighty Allah, the Merciful and the Benevolent. Had it not been due to His
will and favour, the completion of this study would not have been possible.
Thank You Allah
With a Full Heart and Devoted Mouth.
Next …
To my co-supervisor,
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jothi Malar Panandan.
Your guides, help & support are highly appreciated.
Truly, you have earned my unqualified respect and admiration.
Thank You
ii
Abstract of thesis presented to the Senate of Universiti Putra Malaysia in fulfilment of the
requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF THAMARI SHEEP IN YEMEN
ABDULLAH ALI ABDULLAH AL-NOKHAIF
July 2009
Chairman: Associate Professor Ismail bin Idris, PhD
Faculty: Agriculture
The production potential of the Thamari sheep as well as other native breeds in Yemen
had not been well characterized and documented. A field study was conducted to
demonstrate the importance of rearing sheep by farmers in Yemen, and an on station
studys were conducted to evaluate the performance of the popular native Thamari sheep.
The results obtained from the questionnaire survey which was carried out in 20 villages at
the intermountain plains of Yemen during the first half of 2005 showed that 95% of the
farmers who had cultivated land also had livestock. Sheep was the most important kind
of livestock reared and for multi purpose use: as meat supplier for home consumption
(100%), for producing milk (84%) and as a casual source of income for farmers (95%).
Sheep was also used by farmers as exchange for goods or services (9%), and was given
as gift (42%). All households surveyed kept sheep; they also reared cattle (90%), donkey,
goat and camel.
iii
Data analyzed on the Thamari sheep performance consisted of 1966 records of 600
breeding ewes and 1434 lambs of 27 sires used for breeding during 12 breeding seasons
over 6 years. The flock was under a restricted breeding system of two mating per year.
The results showed that fertility, prolificacy and fecundity were 79%, 91% 72%,
respectively, and the weight of ewe at mating was the only source of variation that
significantly (p<0.01) affected these traits. Litter size at birth and weaning were 1.07,
0.94 lambs/ewe, respectively, and were significantly (p<0.05) affected by ewe genotype
and postpartum weight of ewe. Sire also had significant (p<0.05) effect on litter size at
birth. Litter birth weight (3.0 kg) was significantly (p<0.01) affected by year, sire, parity,
litter sex composition, postpartum weight of ewe and by litter size at birth x sire
interaction. Litter weaning weight and litter pre-weaning average daily gain were 16.02
kg and 145 g/d, respectively, and were significantly (p<0.01) affected by year and season
of mating, sire, litter sex combination, litter size at birth, litter birth weight and
postpartum weight of ewe, and by litter size at birth x sire interaction. Mortality of lamb
at birth (3.0%) was significantly (p<0.01) affected by ewe genotype, while the pre-
weaning mortality (4.4%) was affected by ewe genotype and birth type. Body weight of
lambs at six month was 18.8 kg and was significantly (p<0.01) affected by year of birth,
sex, birth type, birth weight of lamb, postpartum weight of ewe, sire and sex x birth type
interaction (p<0.05). Heritability estimates for birth weight, weaning weight and pre-
weaning average daily gain of Thamari lambs were 0.23 ± 0.08, 0.03 ± 0.04 and 0.02 ±
0.04, respectively.
In conclusion, it is obvious that sheep are the most important kind of livestock reared by
farmers and for multipurpose. Several productive traits in the Thamari sheep were found
iv
lower than average values reported in the literatures for other breeds. These could be
improved by increasing number of lambs born per ewe and growth performance of
lambs, which may be achieved by using an optimum mating system in parallel with
improved management and feeding. Sire and ewe genotypes as well as weight of the ewe
at mating and lambing were found to be the most important sources of variation affecting
several productive traits in the Thamari sheep. Therefore, the contribution of the
significant factors to the total phenotypic variation of the Thamari sheep performance
should be eliminated before applying selection and estimating genetic parameters.
v
Abstrak tesis yang dikemukakan kepada Senat Universiti Putra Malaysia sebagai memenuhi keperluan untuk ijazah Doktor Falsafah
PEMBIAKAN PRESTASI BEBIRI THAMARI DI YEMEN
ABDULLAH ALI ABDULLAH AL-NOKHAIF
July 2009
Pengerusi: Profesor Madya Ismail bin Idris, PhD
Fakulti: Pertanian
Potensi pengeluaran bebiri Thamari serta lain-lain baka tempatan di Yemen belum pernah
didokumen dan dicirikan. Kajian di lapagan dan di pusat penyelidikan telah dilakukan
untuk menunjukkan kepentingan menternak bebiri Thamari oleh penternak dan untuk
menilai prestasinya.
Keputusan yang diperolehi daripada soal selidik kajian yang telah dilakukan di 20
perkampongan di dataran tanah tinggi Yemen pada separuh pertama tahun 2005 telah
menunjukkan 95% daripada petani yang bercucuk tanam juga memelihara ternakan.
Bebiri merupakan ternakan terpenting yang dipelihara oleh petani dan ia disimpan untuk
berbagai tujuan: seperti penghasilan daging bagi keperluan rumahtangga (100%),
penghasilan susu (84%) dan sebagai sumber pendapatan (95%). Bebiri juga digunakan
oleh penternak sebagai pertukaran untuk barangan atau perkhidmatan (9%) dan juga
diberi sebagai hadiah (42%). Semua keluarga yang dikaji memelihara bebiri; mereka juga
memelihara lembu (90%), kaldai, kambing dan unta.
vi
Data prestasi bebiri Thamari yang dianalisis mengandungi 1966 rekod yang merangkumi
600 ibu pembiak dan 1434 anak daripada 27 bapak yang digunakan untuk pembiakan
pada 12 musim pembiakan dalam enam tahun. Gerompok bebiri tersebut adalah di bawah
sistem pembiakan terhad dua musim setahun. Keputusan menunjukkan kesuburan,
keperidian dan fekunditi masing-masing adalah 79%, 91% dan 72%, dan berat ibu
semasa mengawan hanyalah sumber variasi yang mempengaruhi (p < 0 .01)ciri-ciri
tersebut. Bilangan anak seperinduk semasa kelahiran dan semasa penyapihan adalah
masing-masing 1.07 dan 0.94 anak/ibu, dan dipengaruhi (p<0.05) oleh genotip ibu dan
berat ibu selepas melahirkan anak. Bapak juga mempengaruhi (p<0.05) bilangan anak
seperinduk. Berat anak semasa lahir (3.0 kg) adalah dipengaruhi (p<0.01) oleh tahun
kelahiran, bapak, pariti , komposisi jantina anak, berat ibu selepas melahirkan anak dan
interaksi antara bilangan anak seperinduk semasa lahir dan bapak. Purata pertambahan
berat harian anak semasa penyapihan dan prapenyapihan adalah masing-masing 16.02 kg
dan 145 g/hari serta dipengaruhi oleh tahun dan musin mengawan, bapak, bilangan anak
seperinduk semasa lahir dan semasa penyapihan, berat anak semasa lahir dan berat ibu
selepas melahirkan dan interaksi antara bilangan anak seperinduk semasa lahir dan bapak.
Kadar kematian anak semasa lahir (3.0%) dipengaruhi (p<0.01) oleh genotip ibu
manakala kadar kematian prapenyapihan (4.4%) dipengaruhi oleh genotip ibu dan jenis
kelahiran. Berat badan anak pada umur enam bulan adalah 18.8 kg dan dipengaruhi
(p<0.01) oleh tahun kelahiran, jantina, jenis kelahiran, berat lahir anak, berat ibu selepas
melahirkan anak, bapak dan interaksi antara jantina dan jenis kelahiran (p<0.05).
vii
Anggaran heritabiliti bagi berat lahir, berat sapih dan purata tumbesaran harian pra
penyapihan adalah 0.23 ± 0.08, 0.03 ± 0.04 dan 0.02 ± 0.04.
Kesimpulannya, adalah jelas bahawa bebiri merupakan ternakan terpenting yang
dipelihara oleh penternak dan disimpan untuk pelbagai tujuan. Beberapa ciri produktif
pada bebiri Thamar didapati lebih rendah daripada nilai purata yang dilaporkan bagi lain-
lain baka. Ini boleh dipertingkatkan dengan penambahan bilangan anak dilahirkan oleh
seekor induk betina dan meningkatkan prestasi pembesaran, yang dapat dichapai dengan
menggunakan sistem pengawanan yang optimum selari dengan peningkatan pengurusan
dan pemakanan. Genotip induk betina dan jantan serta berat induk betina semasa
pengawanan dan semasa kelahiran adalah sumber variasi yang terpenting mempengaruhi
beberapa ciri produktif bebiri Thamari.. Dengan itu, sumbangan faktor-faktor penting
terhadap keseluruhan variasi fenotip prestasi bebiri Thamari perlu disingkarkan sebelum
mengamalkan pemilihan dan mengnggarkan parameter genetik.
viii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
My great thanks, appreciation and gratitude to my country, the Republic of Yemen, and
to the University of Thamar for giving me the chance to do this study and for the
financial support. Special thanks due to Prof. Dr. Ahamad Abdu Saleh (Thamar
University) for his support, friendship, understanding and encouragement to do this
degree, and also to Prof. Dr. Abdullah Al-Mojahid (Sana’a University) for his .support
and encouragement.
I would like to thank the supervisory committee; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ismail Idris, Assoc.
Prof. Dr. Jothi Malar Panandan and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Saidi Moin for their understanding
and patience and for their valuable comments on the draft of this thesis. Special thanks
due to my co-supervisor, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jothi Malar Panandan for her friendly
relationship, hospitality, sincere constructive comments, guidance and encouragement at
every stage of my research study and for her help and guidance during the statistical
analysis and at preparing the final draft of this thesis in particular.
I would like to thank the Examination Committee; Prof. Dr. Zainal Aznam Mohd Jelan,
Associate Professor Halimatun Yaakub, Prof. Dr. Abd Razak Alimon, and Prof. Dr.
Ramli Abdullah for their valuable and constructive comments and corrections made in
this thesis.
I would like also to thank the staff of the Universiti Putra Malaysia, the Department of
Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, the School of Graduate Studies (SGS), and Kolej
14 for helping me in one way or another towards the completion of the study.
I would like to extend my thanks to Dr. Mohamed Ali Hassan (Thamar University) and to
Mr. Aiedh Mohammed Al-Faqieh (Education Institute) for their help represented me
during my study abroad and during contacting the survey study.
ix
My deepest gratitude to my family, my deceased father, my dearest mother and my
children Ibrahime, Omar, Mohammed, Aiman and Yasmine. Thank you for moral
supports, encouragement and understanding, and for being strong and patience during my
study abroad.
Finally, thanks to all my friends in the Department of Animal Sciences and others who
had given me help in one way or another to the successful completion of this study.
x
I certify that a Thesis Examination Committee has met on 28 July 2009 to conduct the final examination of Abdullah Ali Abdullah Al-Nokhaif on his thesis entitled ‘Growth Performance of Thamari Sheep in Yemen’ in accordance with Universities and university colleges Act 1971 and the constitution of the Universiti Putra Malaysia [P.U.(A) 106] March 15, 1998. The committee recommends that the candidate be awarded thr Doctor of Philosophy. Members of the Thesis Examination Committee were as follows:
Zainal Aznam Mohd Jelan, PhD Professor Faculty of Agriculture Universiti Putra Malaysia (Chairman)
Halimatun Yaakub, PhD Associate Professor Faculty of Agriculture Universiti Putra Malaysia (Member) Abd Razak Alimon, PhD Professor Faculty of Agriculture Universiti Putra Malaysia (Member) Ramli Abdullah, PhD Professor Faculty Sains Biologi Universiti Malaya (External Examiner)
_________________________________
BUJANG BIN KIM HUAT, PhD Professor and Deputy Dean
School of Graduate Studies
Universiti Putra Malaysia Date: 24 November 2009
xi
This thesis submitted to the Senate of Universiti Putra Malaysia and has been accepted as fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. The members of the Supervisory Committee were as follows:
Ismail bin Idris, PhD Associate Professor Faculty of Agriculture Universiti Putra Malaysia (Chairman)
Jothi Malar Panandam, PhD Associate Professor Faculty of Agriculture Universiti Putra Malaysia (Member)
Saidi Moin, PhD Associate Professor Faculty of Medicine Universiti Putra Malaysia (Member)
________________________________
HASANAH MOHD GHAZALI, PhD Professor and Dean
School of Graduate Studies
Universiti Putra Malaysia Date: 10 December 2009
xii
DECLARATION
I hereby declare that the thesis is based on my original work except for quotations and
citations, which have been duly acknowledged. I also declare that it has not been
previously or concurrently submitted for any other degree at UPM or other institutions.
________________________________________
ABDULLAH ALI ABDULLAH AL-NOKHAIF
Date: 30 October 2009
xiii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
DEDICATION iii ABSTRACT iv ABSTRAK vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS x APPROVAL xii DECLARATION xiv LIST OF TABLES xxi LIST OF FIGURES xxiv LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS xxv
CHAPTER 1
1 INTRODUCTION
1
1.1 Objectives of the Study 4 1.2 Significance of the Study 4
CHAPTER 5
2 LITERATURE REVIEW
5
2.1 Livestock Production in Yemen 5 2.1.1 Introduction 5 2.1.2 Agro-ecology 6 2.1.3 Climate 7 2.1.4 Livestock Production Systems 8 2.1.5 Animal Genetic Resources and Diversity 11 2.1.6 Thamari Sheep Breed 13
2.2 Economic Traits in Meat Sheep 17 2.2.1 Introduction 17 2.2.2 Conception and Fertility Rates 19 2.2.3 Fecundity, Prolificacy, and Rearing Ability 19 2.2.4 Lambing and Weaning Rates 20 2.2.5 Litter Size at Birth and Weaning 20 2.2.6 Litter Weight at Birth and Weaning 20 2.2.7 Mortality Rate 21
2.3 Non-Genetic Factors Affecting Reproductive Traits 28 2.3.1 Parity and Age of Dam 28
xiv
2.3.2 Year 29 2.3.3 Season 30 2.3.4 Birth Type 31 2.3.5 Ewe Body Weight 31 2.3.6 Other Non-genetic Factors 32
2.4 Non-Genetic Factors Affecting Lambs Mortality 33 2.4.1 Management 34 2.4.2 Dam Age and Parity 34 2.4.3 Birth Type 35 2.4.4 Sex 36 2.4.5 Birth Weight 36
2.5 Non-Genetic Factors Affecting Pre-And- Post-weaning Growth Traits
43
2.5.1 Season 43 2.5.2 Year 44 2.5.3 Sex 49 2.5.4 Birth Type 54 2.5.5 Dam Age and Parity 59
2.6 Phenotypic Correlation 64 2.6.1 Relationship between Reproductive Traits 64 2.6.2 Relationship between Growth Traits 67
CHAPTER 70
3 SURVEY OF LIVESTOCK FARMING SYSTEM IN THAMAR AND YARIM VILLAGES
70
3.1 Materials and Methods 70 3.1.1 Survey Location 70 3.1.2 Survey Method 75 3.1.3 Data Collected and Sample Size 75 3.1.4 Statistical Analysis 76
3.2 Results 77 3.2.1 Number of Farmers Contributed in This Study 77 3.2.2 Farmers Age 77 3.2.3 Activity of Farmers 79 3.2.4 Farmers by Livestock Reared 79 3.2.5 Herd Size of Livestock in the Survey Areas 80 3.2.6 Sheep Breeds by Households 82 3.2.7 Structure of Sheep Flocks over Households 82 3.2.8 Flock Size and Performance 84
xv
3.2.9 Lamb and Ewe Mortality and Culling 86 3.2.10 Purposes of Rearing Sheep 88 3.2.11 Use of Farm by Farmers at the Survey Areas 89
3.3 Discussion 90 3.3.1 Introduction 90 3.3.2 Age and Activity of Farmers 91 3.3.3 Livestock Distribution and Size over Households 92 3.3.4 Sheep Breeds by Households 93 3.3.5 Structure of Sheep Flocks over Households 93 3.3.6 Flock Performance during Previous Season 94 3.3.7 Sheep Production by Household 97 3.3.8 Mating and Lambing Season 101 3.3.9 Lambing Interval 102 3.3.10 Lactation Length 103 3.3.11 Marketing of Meat and Milk Products 104
CHAPTER 105
4 PERFORMANCE OF THAMARI SHEEP UNDER IMPROVED MANAGEMENT CONDITION
105
4.1 Materials and Methods 106 4.1.1 The Research Station 106 4.1.2 Flock Management 106 4.1.3 Data Collection and Preparation 110 4.1.4 Variables Studied and Their Definitions 112 4.1.5 Statistical Analysis 114
4.2 Results 122 4.2.1 Reproductive Performance of Thamari Sheep 122 4.2.2 Factors Affecting Reproductive Traits 128 4.2.3 Factors Affecting Growth Traits 137 4.2.4 Mortality Rate 144 4.2.5 Factors Affecting Lamb Mortality 146 4.2.6 Phenotypic Correlation 149 4.2.7 Heritability Estimates 152
4.3 Discussion 153 4.3.1 Reproductive Traits 153 4.3.2 Growth Traits 161 4.3.3 Mortality Rate 169 4.3.4 Heritability Estimates 170
xvi
GENERAL DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION 172
REFERENCES 177 APPENDICES 188 BIODATA OF THE STUDENT 196 LIST OF PUBLICATIONS 197
xvii
LIST OF TABLES
Table Page
2.1 Reproductive trats 22
2.2 Effect of non-genetic factors on reproductive traits 38
2.3 Effect of year and season on growth traits 46
2.4 Effect of sex of lamb on growth traits 51
2.5 Effect of birth type on growth traits 56
2.6 Effect of dam age and parity on growth traits 61
2.7 Phenotypic correlation between reproductive traits 66
2.8 Phenotypic correlation between growth traits 69
3.1 Number of farmers by villages participated in the survey 78
3.2 Distribution of the survey respondents by age 78
3.3 Distribution of farmers by activity 79
3.4 Percentage of farmers who kept specific type of livestock species
79
3.5 Percentage of farmers who kept different types of livestock species
80
3.6 Herd size of various livestock species in the survey areas in 2005 81
3.7 Type of sheep in the survey areas 82
3.8 Age structure of the sheep flocks in the survey areas in 2005 83
3.9 Number of sheep possessed by farmer in the previous season, 2004
84
3.10 Ewe performance during previous season, 2004 85
3.11 Lamb mortality in the survey areas 86
3.12 Usage of sheep and its distribution in the survey areas 88
xviii
3.13 Response to usage of different farm practices in the survey area 89
4.1 Conception, lambing, abortion and sex ratio of Thamari ewes classified by year and season
124
4.2 Weaning rate, ewe productivity, rearing ability and dry ewes classified by year and season
127
4.3 Analysis of variance of litter size at birth and weaning 131
4.4 Least squares means and standard errors of litter size at birth and weaning
132
4.5 Analysis of variance of litter weight at birth, weaning, litter pre-weaning average daily gain, and the adjusted litter weight at weaning
133
4.6 Least squares means (LSM) and standard errors (SE) of litter weights at birth and weaning, pre-weaning growth rate of litter, and the adjusted weaning weight at weaning
134
4.7 Analysis of variance of fertility, fecundity and prolificacy 135
4.8 Least squares means and standard errors of fertility, fecundity, and prolificacy
136
4.9 Analysis of variance of weight of lambs at birth and weaning, adjusted weaning weight and pre-weaning growth rate
140
4.10 Least squares means (LSM) and standard errors (SE) for birth weight, weaning weight, adjusted weaning weight and pre-weaning growth rate
141
4.11 Analysis of variance of lamb weight at 6 months of age, adjusted weight at 6 months and post-weaning growth rate
142
4.12 Least squares means (LSM) and standard errors (SE) for lamb weight at 6 months, adjusted weight at 6 months and post-weaning growth rate
143
4.13 Mortality of lambs and ewes classified by year and season 145
4.14 Analysis of variance of lamb mortality at birth and during suckling period and total mortality from birth to weaning
147
4.15 Least squares means and standard errors for lamb mortality at birth, during suckling and total mortality from birth to weaning
148
xix
4.16 Pearson correlation coefficients between growth traits of Thamari lambs classified by males and females
150
4.17 Pearson correlation coefficients between reproduction traits of Thamari sheep
151
xx
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure Page
3.1 The Republic of Yemen 72
3.2 The location of Thamar Province 72
3.3 Number and locations of the villages 74
3.4 Percent farmers using different number of rams per ewes at mating 85
3.5 Percent farmers who encountered different number of ewe mortality 87
3.6 Percent farmers who culled different number of sheep due to sickness
87
4.1 Thamari sheep weaners 108
4.2 Thamari ram 109
4.3 Thamari ewes 109
xxi
LIST OF ABBREVATIONS
ADG1 pre-weaning average daily gain
ADG2 post-weaning average daily gain
BWT birth weight
Diff. difference
F \ f female
g gram
GDP gross domestic product
he hectares
IWOE weight of ewe at breeding
kg kilogram
kg\d kilogram per day
LADG1 litter pre-weaning average daily gain
LADG2 litter post-weaning average daily gain
LSB litter size at birth
LSC litter sex
LSW litter size at weaning
LWTB litter birth weight
LWTW litter weaning weight
M \ m male
MB lamb mortality at birth
mth month
N no
PM lamb mortality during suckling period
PPWT weight of ewe at lambing
R Phenotypic correlation
REML Restricted Maximum Likelihood
RLIP Range and Livestock Improvement Project
RRS Regional Research Station
xxii
xxiii
S single
Sign. significant
SOL season of lambing
SOM Season of mating
T twin
TM total lamb mortality from birth to weaning
TOB birth type
WT6M weight at six months
WWT weaning weight
Y yes
YOL year of lambing
YOM year of mating
