Comparison of Afar rams and F1 generation rams (50% Afar breed * 50% Begait breed) on feed intake, body weight gain and carcass yield under intensive management

Sheep production is an important economic function as household savings, asset and insurance to mitigate risk. However, due to poor genetic performance of indigenous breed, farmers are not benefited as expected. This study was conducted to evaluate Afar rams and F1 generation rams (50% Afar breed * 50% Begait breed) on feed intake, body weight gain and carcass yield under intensive management. A total of 22 yearling sheep (11, F1 50% Afar and Begait and 11 pure Afar breeds) were used as experimental animals. Treatment one and two were Afar and F1 generation sheep breed, respectively, with similar diet for both breeds included free choice teff straw and mixed ration of 25% wheat bran+25% brewer's spent grain+ 50 % Noug Seed Cake. Comparison trial was carried out for 90 days after 15 days adaptation period. Six sheep from each treatment were randomly selected and slaughtered after overnight fasting. Data offered intake, body weight gain and carcass yield were collected and analyzed using SPSS version 20 t-test model. Mean comparison of Levene’s test for equality of variances and Independent Samples Test were used. F1 generation (50% Afar and Begait 50%) had higher daily total feed intake (1249.2 gm/day/head) compared to Afar sheep. F1 generation had numerically higher average daily body weight gain (73.1 g/day) compared to Afar sheep breed (72.0 g/day). F1 generation had also higher dressing percentage (44.3%) compared to pure Afar breeds (40%). However, Afar sheep had higher tail weight (1.27 kg/head) compared to F1 generation (0.63 kg/head). It can be concluded that F1G sheep breed had better total dry matter intake, body weight gain and carcass yield compared to Afar breed. Therefore, crossed sheep rams had higher biological yield and recommended for commercial meat-oriented market under intensive management.