Production Performance and Economic Benefits of Sheep Farming in Manatuto Municipality Timor-Leste

Sheep are one type of small ruminant livestock that are very important for rural communities to meet the customary and economic needs of families. This study aims to obtain information about the livestock system, productivity, and benefits of sheep products for the cultural and economic needs of sheep farming families. This study used a survey method with a 95% confidence interval. The determination of the survey location was carried out using the purposive sampling technique and the determination of the sample size using the Slovin method. The selection of respondents used the random sampling method. The variables observed were herd structure, reproductive performance, utility of sheep products to meet the customary and economic needs of farming families, and product sales systems. The survey results showed that around 95% of respondents still use the traditional extensive system, without technical control and attention to the quality and frequency of animal feed. This system is less appropriate in efforts to overcome reproductive problems, the age of the first pregnancy of sheep, resulting in low productivity, mortality rates reaching 1%, the age of first lambing reaching 12 months, and the age of weaning of sheep usually 3 to 6 months. All informants stated that culturally, sheep are the most important animals in their lives, therefore, sheep farming must be maintained at all times. Sometimes they sell the sheep production, but only to finance some of the family's sudden needs. It is concluded that it is difficult to influence farmers to increase sheep productivity, especially in the research location because the main purpose of sheep farming is only to maintain cultural life, not market-oriented.