T.E. Ali, E.S.S. Al-Shukaili, M.S.R. Al-Shamsi,
S.S.S. Al-Hanai, and S.A.M. A1-Nabhani
Directorate General of Agriculture and Animal Resources
in interior region
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
Sultanate of Oman.

SUMMARY

This study was carried out on Omani sheep at Wadi Quriyat

Livestock Research Station with the purpose of determining the effect of selection on sheep productivity. The number of breeding females

used were 307 and 286 ewes in 1994 and 1995 respectively. The dam traits investigated consisted of pre-mating body weight (PMB), fertility (FRT), litter size born (LSB) and litter size weaned (LSW). The progeny traits consisted of birth weight-(BWT), weaning weight (WWT), six-month body weight (SMB) and survival rate (SRV). Mixed model and least-squares methodologies were used for the statistical analyses. Age of dam had significant effect (P<0.05) on all of the dam traits except FRT. The nucleus (selected) dams significantly excelled the control (unselected) by 2.32 kg, 0.18 litters and 0.14 litters in PMB, LSB and LSW respectively. Dam age significantly (P<0.05) affected progeny BWT. Male progenies were significantly (P<0.001) heavier than females by 0.16kg, 3.47kg and

3.86kg at birth, weaning and six months of age respectively. Similarly,

single births were significantly (P<0.001) heavier than twin births by 0.56 kg, 3.90 kg and 2.99 kg at birth, weaning and six months of age respectively. No significant differences were detected between the nucleus and the control progenies indicating that selection had not yet started to show it’s effect in the progeny population.

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