Estimation of Phenotypic Parameters for Productive and Reproductive Traits of Sheep on Small Holdings, Chattogram District, Bangladesh

Abstract

Abstract The experiment was conducted to estimate phenotypic parameters for productive and reproductive traits in smallholder sheep, Anwara, Chattogram. Data were collected through an interview schedule personally from farmers of Anwara upazila who were involved in sheep rearing. The parameters studied were farmers' demographic information, farm demographic information, house information, animal information, feed fodder information, reproductive characteristics, productive information, feeds and fodder, livestock living conditions, and factors related to household sheep production. We observed that the sheep could graze in the roadside areas for the whole day and were kept confined at night. They were given concentrates like wheat bran, rice husk, and soybean meal two times daily, as well as roughage like straw, green grass, tree leaves, hay, seasonal grass, etc. Farmers have an average of 13.23 decimal grazing land, and 94.28% of farmers use roadside grass and tree leaves for sheep rearing. Out of the total farmers, 37.5% were trained in sheep farming, and 62.5% were non-trained. Based on experience, about 62.5% of farmers have at least ten years of farming experience. About 62.5%, 87.5%, and 62.5% of farmers practiced vaccination, deworming and shearing, respectively. About 25% of farmers treat their sheep with a veterinary doctor and 25% practice dipping. The average flock size was 15, the age of puberty was six months, the gestation period was 5 months, the lactation day was 90 days, the mean litter size was 2 and the lambing interval was 180 days. Common diseases of sheep farms were nonspecific diarrhea, coughing, fever, PPR, abortion, pneumonia, etc. Problems of sheep farming are high feed prices, lack of training facilities, predators, etc. Finally, it was concluded that the production status could be increased by proper management and training of farmers.