Sheep Production System and Farmers’ Breeding Practices in North Shewa and South Wollo Zones of Amhara Region, Central Ethiopia

The study was conducted in the north Shewa and south Wollo zones of the Amhara region to identify farmers’ sheep production systems and breeding practices. The study included 80 farmers in total. A chi-square test was implemented for qualitative data, considering the district as the main factor. Quantitative data were also analyzed using a general linear model (GLM), considering the district as the main factor. Both qualitative and quantitative data are analyzed using SPSS version 22. The main separation was implemented using Duncan’s post-hoc multiple comparison method at a 5% error term. For the ranked data, indices were calculated using: index = [3 for rank 1 + 2 for rank 2 + 1 for rank 3] given for particular variables, divided by [3 for rank 1 + 2 for rank 2 + 1 for rank 3] using Microsoft Excel 2016. Income (0.4) and meat sources (0.24) are the main aims of sheep production in all districts. The overall ram selection criteria are shape, growth, color, and size, with respective orders of 0.34, 0.27, 0.23, and 0.14. Communal grazing, stall feeding, and private grazing are methods of sheep feeding. Moreover, supplementary feeding during the dearth period is practiced. Most farmers use rams without selection, mainly from their flock, neighbors’ rams, and rams from grazing areas along the study areas, and in this case, inbreeding. Therefore, sound alternative breeding and continuous awareness creation are needed to reverse the problem.