Growth and reproductive performance of West African Dwarf Sheep (Djallonké) at the Livestock and Poultry Research Centre, University of Ghana

E Ampong, F Y Obese and R A Ayizanga

Department of Animal Science, School of Agriculture, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
fyobese@yahoo.com

Abstract

The West African Dwarf Sheep (Djallonké) is popularly raised in Ghana and serve as important source of protein in the diet, provide a source of income and play important socio-cultural roles. This study evaluated the growth and reproductive performance of the Djallonké sheep at the Livestock and Poultry Research Centre of the University of Ghana between the years 2008 and 2016. Production records were analyzed to determine the effects of non-genetic factors (sex of lamb, parity of dam, year of birth, season of birth and type of birth) on birth weight, weaning weight, pre-weaning growth rate and lambing interval. The overall means obtained for the traits were 1.74 kg for birth weight, 11.0 kg for weaning weight at 4 months (120 days), 76.9 g/day for pre-weaning growth rate and 327 days for lambing interval. Type of birth and sex of lamb affected birth weight with singles (1.94) weighing heavier than twins (1.60 kg) and triplets (1.50 kg), and males weighing heavier than females at birth (1.80 versus 1.70 kg). Also lambs delivered in the major rainy season recorded higher weaning weights than those delivered in the minor season (11.3 versus 10.8 kg). Lambs delivered in the major rainy (79.5 g/day) and dry seasons (79.6 g/day) had higher pre-weaning growth rate than those delivered in the minor rainy season (74.5 g/day). Lambing interval average 327 days. It was prolonged in the year 2016 compared with the other years. Results from the study suggest improving husbandry practices especially nutrition of the Djallonké will enhance its productivity.

Key words: birth weight, growth rate, lambing interval, sheep, weaning weight

Introduction

Increased productivity of livestock is necessary for adequate provision of meat and milk to feed humans and also serve asadditional income for farmers. Presently in Ghana, the low productivity of livestock makes it difficult to meet the fast growing demand for livestock products. Domestic livestock production currently, supplies only about 30% of the national requirement leading to the importation of livestock and livestock products from other countries to meet the shortfall (Oppong-Anane 2011). For example, 42, 536 metric tons of frozen meat and dairy products were imported into the country in 2016 (SRID 2016).

Small ruminant (sheep and goat) production constitute a popular aspect of livestock production in Ghana. It serves as an important source of protein in the diet, provide financial reserve and income as well as play important socio-cultural roles (Tuah et al 1990). Production is normally based on low input traditional extensive system where animals are allowed to graze on natural pasture with little or no feed supplementation. They usually are unable to meet their nutritional requirements especially in the dry season when feed is scarce and of poor quality (Baiden and Obese 2010). This leads to unstable weight gains, low resistance to diseases and reproductive problems (Annor et al 2007; Konlan et al 2010) posing serious challenges to income generation for sheep farmers.

The common sheep breeds in Ghana are the West African Dwarf sheep (Djallonké), the Sahelian and the crossbred of these two breeds. The Djallonké constitute the most predominant breed (Baffour-Awuah et al 2007). Although it is acknowledged for its hardiness, trypanotolerance, tick tolerance, prolificacy and suitability for year-round breeding (Koney 2004; Bosso 2006; Bosso et al 2007), its slow growth potential militates against its productivity (Gbangboche et al 2006).

According to Gbangboche et al (2006), body weight and reproduction are two major components that determine sheep production efficiency and an understanding of environmental factors affecting these traits are needed for successful animal improvement programs. Current information is lacking on factors affecting the productivity of the Djallonké in Ghana. The main objective of this study was to assess the growth and reproductive performance of ­Djallonké sheep at the Livestock and Poultry Research Centre (LIPREC) of the University of Ghana. This should guide in the development of strategies to enhance the management of the Djallonké sheep for improved productivity.

Materials and methods

Location of study

The study was conducted at the Livestock and Poultry Research Centre (LIPREC) of the University of Ghana, Legon. (LIPREC) lies within the Coastal Savannah zone and on latitude 05⁰40’N and longitude 00 ⁰16’W. The annual rainfall is between 128-1709 mm and is distributed bimodally. The major rainy season spans between April and July and the minor rainy season occur from September to November. The remaining months constitute the dry season. The mean monthly temperature is 26.9 ⁰C. The area is covered by natural grassland of medium tussock growth with scattered fire resistant trees and shrubs (Osei-Amponsah 2010).

Data collection

Records on growth and reproductive performance of Djallonké sheep were evaluated. Parameters determined include lamb birth weight, lamb weaning weight at 4 months (120 days), pre-weaning daily weight gain (growth rate) from birth to 4 months (120 days) and lambing interval of ewe. The effect of type of birth (single, twins, triplets), sex of lamb (male or female) season of birth (major rainy season, minor rainy season or dry season) and year of birth on the above parameters were also determined.

Breeding and management of animals

The sheep were housed in pens under a shed. They were grazed on natural pasture (comprising Panicum maximum, Sporobolus pyramidalis) and established pastures (made up of S esbania grandiflora, Bracharia brizanta, Bracharia ruziziensis, Andropogon gayanus and Pangola grass) on a daily basis from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. On return, they were supplemented with leguminous browses such asPureria phaseoloides, Macroptilium atroperpurium and Centrosema pubescens. Drinking water was provided to them all the time. The animals were treated against ecto-parasites mainly ticks, fleas and flukes using a pour-on acaricide (Flumethrin 1% m/v) two times a month in the rainy season and once a month in the dry season. Treatment against endo-parasites was done using an anti-helminth, Albendazole (10%) once a month for lambs for the first six months during the dry season and fortnightly in the wet season. Adult sheep were dewormed at three month intervals.

The ewes were conditioned for two months after lambing for the next breeding. Batched lambing was practiced. The rams were housed and grazed separately from the ewes to avoid premature mating and conception. However, males were grazed together with the females during breeding periods. The lambs were weighed at birth and then monthly. Lambs were weaned at four months of age.

Statistical analyses

Data were analysed using the Generalised Linear Model (GLM) Type III procedures of Statistical Analysis Systems (SAS 1999). Differences amongst means for a trait were determined using the Student-Newman-Keuls Test (SNK). The statistical model for the growth and reproductive traits was as follows:

P_{ijkl =} µ ₊ Y_i + S_j + T _k + X_l + e_ijkl

Where,

P_{ijkl =} measured traits

µ = overall mean

Y_i = effect of the i^th Year of birth (fixed class – 8 classes)

S_j = effect of j^th type of birth (fixed class – 3 classes)

T_k = effect of k^th season of birth (fixed class – 3 classes)

X_l = effect of l^th sex of lambs (fixed effect – 2 classes)

e_ijkl = random error associated with each observation

Pre-weaning growth rate up to 4 months was estimated as:

(Weaning weight – Birth weight)/No of days from birth to weaning

Results and Discussion

Birth weight, weaning weight and pre-weaning growth rate

The mean birth weight was 1.74 kg (Table 1). This fell within the range of 1.70 to 1.85kg reported for the same breed by other researchers in Ghana (Oppong-Anane 1971; Tuah and Baah 1985; Obese 1994; London and Weninger 1995; Baffour-Awuah et al 2007; Odoom 2012), but lower than the value of 2.34 kg reported by Awuah (2009). Also Senou et al (2009), Bosso et al (2007), and Yapi-Gnaore´et al (1997) obtained higher mean birth weights of 1.90 and 2.01 kg for the Djallonké in Benin and 2.25 kg for the same breed in La Cote d’lvoire respectively. The variation in birth weight may be attributed factors including nutritional status of the dam during pregnancy, age and parity of dam and different management practices in production. For example, the limited availability and poor quality of forages for grazing dams especially during the dry season adversely influence their nutritional status, subsequently affecting the availability of nutrients for foetal development. This is because, birth weight is a consequence of the net supply of nutrients reaching the foetus (Obese et al 2013).

Type of birth was found to influence the birth weight of Djallonké lambs with offspring born as singles being heavier than those born in multiples (Tuah et al 1992; Yapi-Gnaore et al 1997; Baffour-Awuah et al 2007). This corroborates the observation in the present study where lambs born as singles (1.94 kg) were heavier than those born as twins (1.60 kg) or triplets (1.50 kg). The variation in birth weight due to the type of birth could be attributed to competition between foetuses for available space and nutrients in the uterus which becomes more intense in the case of multiple fetuses (Robinson et al 1977; Williamson and Payne 1978; Tuah et al 1992). Birth weight was not influenced in the present study by season of birth. Similar to the report of London and Weninger (1995) for Djallonké sheep in the humid and subhumid zones in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Year of birth was also not a significant source of variation for birth weight in the present study.

Birth weight was affected by sex of lamb. The male lambs were heavier at birth than their female counterparts (1.80 versus 1.70 kg). This could be attributed to the greater rate of skeletal growth of male fetuses compared to female foetuses in the uterus (Malik et al 1970; Robinson et al 1977). This results agrees with some studies in the Djallonké in Ghana (Baffour- Awuah 2007; Awuah 2009) and La Cote d’lvoire (Yapi-Gnaore 1997).

The number of young weaned per ewe and the growth rate of lamb are major production traits of interest to farmers. Breed, sex, type of birth and different years have been reported to affect weaning weight in sheep (Akhtar et al 2006). Weaning weight averaged 11.0 kg and was higher in lambs delivered in the major rainy season than those in the minor rainy season (11.3 versus 10.8 kg). The overall weaning weight value of 11.0 kg at 120 days obtained in the present study was higher than the values 9.0 kg and 9.40 kg reported for the Djallonké in Ghana by Baffour-Awuah et al (2007) and Odoom (2012) and the 8.51 kg reported by Bosso et al (2007) for the same breed in Benin. The differences in weaning weight of lamb may be attributed to differences in mothering ability, especially increased milk production. It has been reported that maternal abilities of ewes mostly affect the weaning weights of their lambs through the milk they produce (Bradford 1972). The differences in the quality and quantity of feed available to the dams during the different seasons accounted for the seasonal effects on the weaning weight of lambs. Generally, the dams in the favoured season would have access to more quality feed and be able to provide more milk for lambs. Baffour - Awuah et al (2007) also reported of higher weaning weights in Djallonké lambs born in the major rainy season than in the minor rainy season (9.2 versus 8.7 kg) at the National Sheep Breeding Station at Ejura in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.

Single lambs were not superior to twin or triplets in the present study contrary to the observation of Baffour-Awuah et al (2007) who observed that Djallonké lambs born as singles were significantly superior in weight to those born as twins at 120 days of weaning (9.1 versus 7.3 kg). London and Weninger (1995) also obtained higher weaning weights for Djallonké lambs born as singles than twins born lambs at 105 days.

The lambs grew averagely at 76.9 g/day. This was similar to the average pre-weaning growth value 73.0 g/day reported by Awuah (2009) for the Djallonké on the same station but higher than the values 59.0 g/day and 63.1 g/day reported by Baffour-Awuah (2007) and Odoom (2012) for Djallonké sheep at the National Sheep Breeding Station of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture at Ejura in the Ashanti Region and the Animal Research Institute station at Pokuase in Accra respectively. The pre-weaning growth rate was affected by season of birth being higher in lambs born in the major rainy season (79.5 g/day) or dry season (79.6 g/day) than those born in the minor rainy season (74.5 g/day). All other parameters examined did not affect pre-weaning growth rate. The provision of adequate amounts of quality feed to dams enhances their ability to produce the required quantity of milk to feed lambs for growth until weaning (Senou et al 2009). Milk supplied to the lamb by the dam provides the needed antibodies for good immune system development and essential nutrients to enhance fast healthy growth in life (Borg 2005). The influence of the season of birth on pre-weaning growth rate may be due to differences in the availability of feed in the different seasons which affected mothering ability of the ewes in relation to quantity of milk produced to feed the lambs. Similar to the observation in this present study Baffour-Awuah et al (2007) reported that lambs born during the major rains grew faster than those born during the minor rains (60.8 versus 56.7 g/day). Also, Tibbo (2006) reported that lambs born in the wet season grew faster than their counterparts born in the dry season (74 versus 54 g/day).

Lambing interval serves as an important indicator of reproductive efficiency in a flock. The mean lambing interval of 327 days recorded in the present study (Table 2) was longer than the 243 to 307 days reported for the breed in earlier studies (Fall et al 1982; Tuah and Baah, 1985; Gbangboche et al 2006). These differences could be due to the different management practices and levels of genetic make-up. According to London et al (1994), the intervals seem longer under controlled mating practices than uncontrolled traditional breeding practices. LIPREC practices controlled mating system where rams are separated from the ewes and only brought together at specific times for mating. Thus prolonged periods of separation of breeding males from breeding females is likely to extend lambing intervals in this system. Lambing intervals exceeding 243 days preclude the option of producing three lamb crops in two years, which is suggested to be the optimum production level for sheep in the tropics (Jainudeen et al 2000).

In the present study, the lambing intervals were shorter between the years 2008 and 2015 compared with the year 2016. Lack of grazing land due to infrastructural development in 2016 decreased the availability of feed for use by the dams leading to weight loss consequently extending lambing to conception and thus prolonging lambing intervals.

Sex of lamb, type of birth or parity of dam, did not constitute significant source of variation for lambing interval in the present study. Gbangboche et al (2006), however reported of decreased lambing interval with increased parity of ewes in the Djallonké. This was attributed to the fact that younger or primiparous ewes are still growing and might compete with their foetuses for available nutrients for growth and development. This tends to adversely affect foetal growth during gestation consequently prolonging the lambing interval.

Conclusions

• Birth weight and growth rate of Djallonké lambs at the Livestock and Poultry Research Centre was optimum, similar to what has been reported for the same breed by other workers. The growth performance of the Djallonké sheep was influenced by sex of lamb, type of birth and season of birth.
  
  
• The lambing interval was prolonged. It was affected by year of birth of lambs.
  
  
• Improving husbandry practices especially nutrition of the animals will enhance productivity.

Acknowledgement

Dr. L K Adjorlolo (Jnr) and Mr. Patrick Tecku are acknowledged for their assistance with data collection.

References

Akhtar P, Ali S, Hussain A, Shafiq M and Younas 2006 Effect of inbreeding on pre-weaning growth traits in Thalli sheep. Pakistan Veterinary Journal 26(3): 138-140.

Annor S Y, Djang-Fordjour K T and Gyamfi K A 2007 Is growth rate more important than survival and reproduction in sheep farming in Ghana? Journal of Science and Technology 27: 23-31.

Awuah T E 2009 The effect of breed, type of birth, parity of dam and sex on the performance of lambs. B.Sc Dissertation. University of Ghana, Legon.

Baffour-Awuah O, Adu M O, Gabada C and Fynn K 2007 Reproductive performance and pre-weaning growth of Djallonke sheep. Ghanaian Journal of Animal Science 2&3 (1) 97- 102.

Baiden RY and Obese FY 2010 Performance of West African Dwarf sheep (the Djallonké) fed fattening diets containing agro-industrial by-products in Ghana.

Borg R 2005 “Profit Improving Genetics”: Indexes for sheep genetic improvement. Montana Sheep Institute Newsletter.

Bosso N A 2006 Genetic improvement of livestock in tsetse infested areas in West Africa. Ph.D. thesis, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, The Netherlands

Bosso N A, Cisse M F, vander Waaij E H, Fall A, van Arendonk J A M 2007 Genetic and phenotypic parameters of body weight in West African Dwarf goat and Djallonke sheep. Small Ruminant Research 67:271-278.

Bradford G E 1972 The role of maternal effects in animal breeding: VII. Maternal effects in sheep. Journal of Animal Science 35(6): 1324-1334.

Fall A, Diop M, Sandford J, Wissocq Y J, Durkin J and Trail J C M 1982 Evaluation of the Productivities of Djallonke Sheep and N’Dama Cattle at the Centre de Recherches Zootechniques, Kolda, Senegal. Research report no. 3. ILCA, Adis Abeba, Ethiopia.

Gbangboche A B, Adamou-Ndiaye M, Youssao A K I, Farnir F, Detilleux J, Abiola F A and Leroy P I 2006 Non-genetic factors affecting the reproductive performance, lamb growth and productivity indices of Djallonke sheep. Small Ruminant Research 64: 133-142

Jainudeen M R, Wahid H and Hafez E S E 2000 Sheep and goats. In: B. Hafez and E.S.E. Hafez (Eds). Reproduction in Farm Animals. 7th. Edition Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, USA. pp 2-181.

Konlan S P 2010 Shea nut cake in supplemental concentrate for growing Djallonké rams fed a basal diet of rice straw and groundnut haulms in the dry season. MSc thesis. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. http://ir.knust.edu.gh/bitstream/123456789/430/1/Konlan's%20thesis.pdf

Koney E B M 2004 Livestock Production and Health in Ghana. Advent Press, Accra. pp1 – 21.

London JC, Weniger JH and Schwartz HJ 1994 Investigation into traditionally managed Djallonké-sheep production in humid and subhumid zones of Asante, Ghana. II. Reproductive events and prolificacy. Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics 111: 432-450.

London J C and Weniger J H 1995 Investigation into traditionally managed Djallonké-sheep production in humid and subhumid zones of Asante, Ghana. III. Relationship between birth weight, preweaning growth and post weaning growth of lambs. Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics 112: 431-453.

Malik B S, Kunzru O N and Dwaraknath P K 1970 Relationship of birth weight and certain body measurements at birth with yearling body weight of Magra lambs. Indian Veterinary Journal 47: 749-752.

Obese F Y 1994 A study on the effects of diets containing varying levels of cocoa pod husk (CPH) and 5% NaOH-treated corn cob on the growth and reproductive performance of confined Djallonké Sheep. M.Sc. Thesis, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.

Obese F Y, Acheampong D A and Darfour-Oduro K A 2013 Growth and reproductive traits of Friesian x Sanga crossbred cattle in the Accra plains of Ghana. African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development 13:7357-7371.

Odoom E 2012 Growth performance of West African dwarf (Djallonké) sheep. BSc Dissertation. University of Ghana, Legon.

Oppong-Anane K 1971 Observation on the performance of a flock of forest dwarf sheep. BSc. Dissertation, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. pp 24-28.

Oppong-Anane K 2011 Ghana livestock sector review report. A report submitted to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Osei-Amponsah R 2010 Phenotypic and genetic characterization of local chicken (Gallus gallus) ecotypes of Ghana. PhD thesis, Department of Animal Science. University of Ghana, Legon.

Robinson J J, McDonald I, Fraser C and Crafts R M J 1977 Studies on reproduction in prolific ewes. I. Growth of the products of conception Journal of Agricultural Science (Camb) 88:539-552.

Rastogi R K and Youssef F G 1979 Note on early growth rates of lambs of some tropical breeds. Animal Breeding Abstracts 47: 722 (abstract)

SAS 1999 Statistical analysis systems. Version 8, for windows. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, North Carolina, U.S.A.

Senou M, Tobada P, Dahouda M, Adandedjan C, Aboki V, Alimy S, Tondji P M 2009 Pre- and post-weaning growth in Djallonke lambs. Livestock Research Rural Development 21(6). http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd21/6/seno21081.htm

SRID 2016 Statistical Research and Information Directorate, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Accra, Ghana. Facts and Figures.

Tibbo M 2006 Productivity and health of indigenous sheep breeds and crossbreds in the Central Ethiopian Highlands. Ph.D. Thesis, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala. pp 3-73.

Tuah A K and Baah J 1985 Reproductive performance, pre-weaning growth rate and pre-weaning lamb mortality of Djallonke sheep in Ghana. Tropical Animal Health and Production 7:107-113.

Tuah A K 1990 Utilization of agricultural by-products for village and commercial production in sheep rations in Ghana. In: Utilization of research results on forage and agricultural by-product materials as animal feed resources in Africa. In: Dzowela, H., Said, A.N. Wendem-Agenehu, A., Kategile, J.A (Eds), Proceedings of the first joint PANESA/ARNAB workshop held in Lillongwe, Malawi, 5-9 December 1988. ILCA Publication, pp 57-69

Tuah A K, Buadu M K, Obese F Y and Brew K 1992 The performance, potentials and limitations of the West African Dwarf goat for meat production in the forest belt of Ghana. Proceedings of the 1 ^st biennial conference of the African Small Ruminant Research Network. ILRAD, Nairobi, Kenya. 10 -14 December, 1990. pp 435-443.

Williamson G and Payne W J A 1978 An introduction to Animal Husbandry in the Tropics. 3^rd Ed. Longman Group Ltd. London. pp 436-462.

Yapi-Gnaoré C V, Oya A, Rege J E O and Dagnogo B 1997 Analysis of an open nucleus breeding programme for Djallonke sheep in the Ivory Coast. I. Examination of non-genetic factors. Animal Science 64:291-300.

Received 12 December 2018; Accepted 14 December 2018; Published 1 January 2019

Go to top