Poster prepared by Solomon Gizaw, Tesfaye Getachew, Sisay Lemma, Ayele Abebe, Shenkute Goshme, Okeyo Mwai and Tadelle Dessie for the ILRI APM 2013, Addis Ababa, 15-17 May 2013

1. Genetic selection is a feasible and effective breeding
strategy for indigenous sheep populations in Ethiopia
Methods
A nucleus flock of Menz sheep was established at Debre Birhan Research Centre in 1998.
The breeding strategy adopted was selective breeding
Selection of breeding stock was based on estimated breeding values (EBV) of selection candidates for
their yearling weight
Conclusion
Rapid genetic improvement in important growth traits has been achieved through selection focusing on yearling weight
A nucleus of genetically superior flock of Menz sheep has been established as source of elite breeding rams for community flocks.
Purpose
To establish a genetically elite nucleus flock of Menz sheep and continuously improve the indigenous Menz
sheep through selective breeding
Results
• Breeding values improved by an average of 0.78 kg per
generation
• By the 8th generation, lamb yearling weight was 6.28 kg above
the base population (Figure 1)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1998 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2008
EBV(kg)
Year
Weaning weight Six month weight Yearling weight
Figure 1: The genetic trend in growth performance
Improved rams were
distributed
to villagers
Solomon Gizaw, Tesfaye Getachew, Sisay Lemma, Ayele Abebe, Shenkute Goshme,
Okeyo Mwai, Tadelle Dessie
May 2013
Tadelle Dessie
t.dessie@cgiar.org ● Box 5689 Addis Ababa Ethiopia ● +251 091 160 3057 ● ilri.org
This paper is part of the 1st author’s postdoctoral research sponsored by ILRI/DAAD; the
project was funded by ARARI.
This document is licensed for use under a Creative Commons Attribution –Non commercial-Share Alike 3.0
Unported Licence May 2013