Productivity of Omani Sheep after three years of intensive Management-and two years of selection

Abstract

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