A conceptual review on breeding and conservation approaches for Tikur sheep population

Abstract

The objective of the review is to suggest breeding and conservation strategies for the Tikur sheep population. Determination of breeding and conservation strategies for livestock improvement mainly relies on the breed merits of the animals. Tikur sheep are the dominant sheep types in the highlands of the North Wollo Zone. They have unique adaptive merits for a subalpine cool environment. The farmers primarily rely on sheep production in these areas. Adequate information on the production and reproduction performances of Tikur sheep is available in the works of literature. This information could aid future decisions on the management, conservation, and genetic improvement of the sheep. However, breeding and conservation strategies have not yet been documented in the sheep. More than 4500 Awassi crossbred rams have been randomly introduced nearly in all districts of the highlands of North Wollo Zone to improve the wool and meat production of the sheep for four decades and resulting in extensive and indiscriminate mating between Awassi crossbred rams and Tikur sheep ewes. The genetic diversities of Tikur sheep have been now threatened due to indiscriminate cross-breeding, lack of breeding policy, and production advantages. Besides, no effort has been made to conserve and improve the sheep in the research stations; but good attempts have been made to protect and improve the Menz, Horro, Bonga, and Afar in the research stations. Therefore, it is time to call for conservation-based genetic improvement approaches for sheep. In-situ conservation complemented with designing community-based selective breeding is the primary strategy to preserve and improve the sheep.

Keywords:

• Breeding Strategy
• Conservation
• Performance
• Tikur Sheep
• Awassi Breed

PUBLIC INTEREST STATEMENT

Tikur sheep is the dominant sheep breed in the sub-alpine cool highlands of North Wollo Zone, which is characterized by extremely cold weather conditions, serious feed and water shortages, and high disease and parasite exposures. The sheep have excellent adaptive traits. However, these sheep have been indiscriminately crossbred with exotic sheep and their genetic diversities are now declined. The situation calls for conservation-based genetic improvement. The review is aimed to suggest the breeding and conservation strategies of the sheep. It is research-based and crucial for developing and implementing suitable conservation-based genetic improvement strategies. The review can also serve as baseline information for policymakers, researchers and agricultural offices, and students to take necessary actions on the sheep genetic improvement, conservation, and management and undertake further study on the sheep. Moreover, it provides a comprehensive understanding of the performances, unique features, and breeding and conservation strategies of the sheep to the readers.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Tassew Mohammed

Tassew Mohammed Ali (Ph.D.). I got my MSc and Ph.D. degrees in Animal Genetics and Breeding from Haramaya University, Ethiopia, and Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, India, respectively. I have been working in the Department of Animal Science, at Woldia University as Assistant Professor. I have also served as Research and Community Service Coordinator, and Vice-dean of the College of Agriculture. I am well experienced with SAS and R statistical software packages. I successfully completed several research activities on sheep and found satisfactory results on the production, reproduction, and adaptive performances of Tikur sheep. Tikur sheep particularly have unique adaptive characteristics. The results of the research serve as baseline information for policymakers, researchers, and agricultural offices to take necessary actions on the sheep genetic improvement, conservation, and management and undertake further study on the sheep. I published more than seven research articles in international journals.