Prolificacy And Lamb Mortality Of West African Dwarf Sheep Raised Under Intensive System Of Management

ABSTRACT

The production records of WAD sheep raised intensively at MOUAU livestock farm were evaluated within a nine-year period (1998-2006). Parameters of interest were prolificacy, pre and post weaning mortality rates. Results showed that there were 165 lambing’s with a total of 181 lamb harvest; broken into 150 singles, 14 twins and 1 triplet births. Rainy season births were 69.7% as against 30.3% for dry season. Pre and post weaning mortalities were 81.08%, 18.92%, respectively within the period of study. However, pre and post weaning mortalities during the rainy and dry seasons were 73.3%, 26.7%, 71 .4%, 28.6% respectively. Causes of mortality were linked to still birth, hypothermia, pneumonia, starvation, weakness, and unknown causes. The percentages were 14.86%, 9.46%, 17.57%, 27.03%, 10.81% and 20.27% respectively. Management programme in sheep should improve to accommodate practices that should ensure less pre and post weaning mortality and encourage prolificacy of WAD during the rainy season.