BREEDING PRACTICES OF BANGLADESHI COASTAL SHEEP-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BUSINESS, SOCIAL AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ISSN: 2309-7892, Volume: 4, Issue: 4, Page: 324-327, July-September 2016

1. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BUSINESS, SOCIAL AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
ISSN: 2309-7892, Volume: 4, Issue: 4, Page: 324-327, July-September 2016
Invited Paper
BREEDING PRACTICES OF BANGLADESHI COASTAL SHEEP
*Farukul Islam1
, Md. Redoan Akond Sumon2
, Muhammad Omar Faruque2
, Mohsin Ali Sarder3
and Md. Shamsul Hossain1
[Citation: Farukul Islam, Md. Redoan Akond Sumon, Muhammad Omar Faruque, Mohsin Ali Sarder and Md. Shamsul Hossain
(2016). Breeding practices of Bangladeshi Coastal sheep. Int. J. Bus. Soc. Sci. Res. 4(4): 324-327. Retrieve from
http://www.ijbssr.com/currentissueview/140131600]
Received Date: 30/08/2016 Acceptance Date: 22/09/2016 Published Date: 27/09/2016
Abstract
Data on husbandry and breeding practices were collected from 96 sheep keeping farmers of
villages from coastal region in Bangladesh during May 05, 2016 to June 07, 2016. Many farmers
(66.70%) did not provide water to their sheep and mainly green grass (100%) and tree leaves
(96.90%) were used for feeding the sheep. Many of the farmers did graze their sheep from dawn
to dusk. Majority of the sheep farmers (63.50%) employed workers to take care of their sheep
and there were two types of farmers. All farmers took bath of their sheep and majority of the
farmers vaccinated (53.10%) and used anthelmintics (53.10%) regularly. All farmers were
keeping sheep for meat purpose. Traditional natural mating system (95.90%) followed by the
sheep farmers at study sites, where rams were allowed to mate with a heated ewe without
considering the relationship between ram and ewes. In this traditional mating system at study
site, farmers allowed the ram to mate with half sibs, full sibs, also allowed their rams to mate
with his first cousin sisters and second cousin sisters. However, rams in the herd even could mate
with his grand dam or even with ewe 4 generations senior to him. On the contrary 55.20%
farmers were replacing their rams either from own herd or from outside the herd. At study site
many farmers pointed out that making available fresh water for sheep was a big issue, majority
of them were seeking grazing land but most of the farmers were in an opinion that making
available of hi-merit breeding ram would be worthwhile for coastal sheep improvements.
However, it could be concluded that, the traditional mating practices is neither an inbreeding
system nor an out breeding system, rather it is a mix of the two and which indicates the clear
absence of systematic breeding in coastal sheep at study site. For coastal sheep improvement
fresh water, grazing land and hi-merit rams were very much important.
Key words: Breeding system, Bangladeshi Coastal sheep.
Introduction
In Bangladesh sheep are mainly kept for meat purpose at char area, coastal belt and rural area region of
all over the country. However per head per day meat shortage in Bangladesh is 54.97 gm (MOFL, 2013).
About 20% of the population is directly and 50% is partly dependent on livestock sector in Bangladesh.
Livestock contribute about 2.73% of Gross Domestic Products (GDP) and 4.31% export earnings from
leather and leather goods of total export (Draft SFYP, 2010). Sheep have ability to adapt to harsh
environment, poor management and feeding practices, so these valuable genetic resources could easily be
kept by rural farmers (Sultana et al., 2011). Sheep population increased 2.5 times, with annual growth
rate of 5%, during the last twelve Years (BBS, 2008). Majority (64.43%) of total sheep population in the
world are found in Asia and Africa and interestingly 25.32% of total number (920) of sheep breeds, are
found in Asia (FAO, 2003). About 32% of 2.7 million sheep are reared in three ecological zones like
Barind, Jumna basin and Coastal areas in Bangladesh (BBS, 2008). Hassan and Talukder (2011)
documented, body weight of adult sheep 41.60 kg, age of ewe at first lambing 439.5 ± 58.3 days, ear
length 8.4 cm, body length 45.9 cm, heart girth 64.9 cm, wool production per year 852.9±33.1 g, litter
size 1.6 ± 0.2, coat color white (70%) and white brown (30%) in Bangladeshi coastal sheep. Sheep are
capable of bi-annual lambing and multiple births and most of the sheep are indigenous, with few
crossbreds (Bhuiyan, 2006). Better reproductive performance was in Barind sheep and highest birth
weight and wool production was in Coastal sheep (Hassan and Talukder, 2011). The reproductive
performance in terms of litter size, Jumna region sheep was comparatively better than Coastal and Barind
sheep (Pervage et al., 2009). Investigation on feeding system for specific sheep type for productive and
reproductive performances of native sheep in Bangladesh was not done (Sultana et al., 2011). However,
limited information regarding the potential of native sheep was reported, because these animals were
neglected in the past (Hassan and Talukder, 2011). Published information about breeding system of
*Corresponding Author's Email: islam.farukul@yahoo.com
1
Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh.
2
Scientific Officer, Conservation and Improvement of native Sheep through Community and Commercial Farming Project,
Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Saver, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
3
Technical Specialist-Livestock and Economic Development, Concern Worldwide-Bangladesh, Gulshan 1, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

2. Islam et al.
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Bangladeshi coastal sheep is scanty but, to conserve and develop a breed or variety knowledge about
breeding system of that specific population is a prerequisite. Therefore, this study was designed and
conducted to explore knowledge to define the breeding system of coastal sheep in Bangladesh.
Methodology
Data on feeding, watering, vaccination, de-worming, herd size, mating system and ram using process,
were collected from 96 sheep keeping farmers of villages from coastal region (Companigonj and
Subornochar upazila under the district of Noakhali) in Bangladesh during May 05, 2016 to June 07,
2016. A pre prescribed questionnaire was used to collect data by direct interview method. As the
observation number of different traits was unequal, the design of the study was unbalanced factorial in
nature. The recorded data were stored on to the excel spread sheet and edited for further analyses. Then
data were analyzed for having frequency and percentages through descriptive statistics menu under the
Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 14.0 (SPSS, 2005).
Results
Care and husbandry of coastal sheep
Many farmers (66.70%) did not provide water to their sheep (Table 1) but those who provided water,
majority (62.50%) of them took care about water safety but many of them did not use waterer. However,
green grass (100%), tree leaves (96.90%), concentrate feed (35.40%) and rice straw (20.80%) were used
for feeding the sheep. Many of the farmers did graze their sheep from dawn to dusk.
Table 1. Care and husbandry practices of Bangladeshi coastal sheep
Parameter Category Farmers Opinion
Water supply
Yes 32 (33.30%)
No 64 (66.70)
Take care about water safety
Yes 20 (62.50%)
No 12 (37.50%)
Use waterer for water supply
Yes 12 (37.50%)
No 20 (62.50%)
Feed Ingredients used
Green grass 96 (100.00%)
Tree leaves 93 (96.90%)
Rice straw 20 (20.80%)
Concentrate feed 34 (35.40%)
Grazing time allocated for the sheep in a
day
12 hours 13 (13.50%)
10 hours 40 (41.70%)
Dawn to Dusk 43 (44.80%)
Contributor in sheep rearing Owner 35 (36.50%)
Employee 61 (63.50%)
Use to take bath of sheep
Yes 58 (60.40%)
No 38 (39.60%)
Type of farmers
Small scale farmer (5-20 sheep) 45 (46.90%)
Big scale farmer (above 20 to200) 51 (53.10%)
Night shelter
Sheep house, house of owner, other
animal’s house
30 (31.25%)
Yards without roofs 66 (68.75%)
Purpose of sheep rearing
Meat 96 (100.00%)
Milk 0
Wool 0
Experience in sheep rearing
Family tradition 32 (33.30%)
5 years 37 (38.50%)
10 years 27 (28.10%)
Use regularly anthelmintics
Yes 51 (53.10%)
No 45 (46.90%)
Vaccination done regularly
Yes 51 (53.10%)
No 45 (46.90%)
Majority of the sheep farmers (63.50%) employed workers to take care of their sheep and there were two
types of farmers. Small scale farmers (46.90%) kept 5 to 20 sheep while big farmers use to keep more
than 20 to 200 sheep in a herd. All farmers took bath of their sheep and most of them kept sheep in yards
without roofs. Majority of the farmers vaccinated (53.10%) their sheep and used anthelmintics (53.10%)
regularly. All farmers were keeping sheep for meat purpose and 33.33% farmers were keeping as family
tradition since long days ago.

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Breeding system practiced
Traditional natural mating system (95.90%) followed by the sheep farmers at study sites, where rams
were allowed to mate with a heated ewe without considering the relationship between ram and ewes. But
a few farmers used selected rams for selected ewes.
Table 2. Breeding practices of Bangladeshi coastal sheep
Parameter Category Farmers Opinion
Insemination system
exercised
Rams kept untie at the herd for insemination 94 (95.90%)
Insemination with selected ram 2 (2.10%)
Buck replacement
system practiced
Yes 53 (55.20%)
No 43 (44.80%)
In this traditional mating system at study site, farmers allowed the ram to mate with half sibs, full sibs,
also allowed their rams to mate with his first cousin sisters and second cousin sisters. However, rams in
the herd even could mate with his grand dam or even with ewe 4 generations senior to him. On the
contrary 55.20% farmers were replacing their rams either from own herd or from outside the herd.
Farmers’ suggestions for improvements of coastal sheep
At study site many farmers pointed out that making available fresh water for sheep was a big issue,
majority of them were seeking grazing land but most of the farmers were in an opinion that making
available of hi-merit breeding ram would be worthwhile for coastal sheep improvements.
Table 3. Farmers’ suggestions for improvement of Bangladeshi coastal sheep
Parameter Category Farmers Opinion
Input require for sheep
improvement
Make available fresh water 35 (36.50%)
Make available grazing land 49 (51.00%)
Supply hi-merit rams 56 (58.30%)
Discussion
Care and husbandry of coastal sheep
Many farmers (66.70%) did not provide water to their sheep (Table 1) but those who provided water,
majority (62.50%) of them took care about water safety but many of them did not use waterer. However,
green grass (100%), tree leaves (96.90%), concentrate feed (35.40%) and rice straw (20.80%) were used
for feeding the sheep. Many of the farmers did graze their sheep from dawn to dusk. The sheep are raised
on harvested or fallow lands, roads, and canal sides under traditional feeding systems and also graze on
aquatic weeds and grass in knee-deep water (Sultana et al., 2010). Majority of the sheep farmers
(63.50%) employed workers to take care of their sheep and there were two types of farmers. On the
contrary, Sultana et al., (2011), reported that, in char or coastal area and also in plane land sheep mostly
reared by family members under zero input. Small scale farmers (46.90%) kept 5 to 20 sheep while big
farmers use to keep more than 20 to 200 sheep in a herd. All farmers took bath of their sheep and
majority of the farmers vaccinated (53.10%) and used anthelmintics (53.10%) regularly. All farmers
were keeping sheep for meat purpose and 33.33% farmers were keeping as family tradition since long
days ago. Climatic conditions and type of production system needs to be addressed to design shelters or
houses for sheep and goats to get optimum production (Hamito, 2009). The above discussion might be
suggested that, grazing on green grass and supplying tree leaves were the two main feeding ways, many
farmers were not aware of water safety, majority of the farmers hired workers to rear sheep and many of
them vaccinated their sheep and used anthelmintics for de-worming purpose.
Breeding system practiced
Traditional natural mating system (95.90%) followed by the sheep farmers at study sites, where rams
were allowed to mate with a heated ewe without considering the relationship between ram and ewes. But
a few farmers used selected rams for selected ewes. In this traditional mating system at study site,
farmers allowed the ram to mate with half sibs, full sibs, also allowed their rams to mate with his first
cousin sisters and second cousin sisters. However, rams in the herd even could mate with his grand dam
or even with ewe 4 generations senior to him. On the contrary 55.20% farmers were replacing their rams
either from own herd or from outside the herd. The conception rate was lower in intensive system
(83.0%) compare to semi-intensive system (98.0%) but service per conception in both intensive (1.6)
and semi intensive system (1.4) did not differ significant (p > 0.05) (Sultana et al., 2011). So, traditional
mating practices is neither an inbreeding system nor an out breeding system, rather it is a mix of the two
and which indicates the clear absence of systematic breeding in coastal sheep at study site.

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Farmers’ suggestions for improvements of coastal sheep
At study site many farmers pointed out that making available fresh water for sheep was a big issue,
while, majority of them were seeking grazing land for the improvement of coastal sheep. Culling less
productive animals to reduce flock sizes, and re-allocating of resources (e.g. feed and health
management) and different breeding alternatives to maximise production (e.g. lamb growth and survival)
per animal are the means of upgrading management levels for the genetically superior flocks are
suggested (Tibbo et al., 2006). On the other hand, most of the farmers were in an opinion that making
available of hi-merit breeding ram would be worthwhile for coastal sheep improvements. Selection
between breeds (or strains), selection within breeds (or strains) and crossbreeding or synthetic breed
development could be the strategies for genetic improvement. Strategy for improvement should be
different for different indigenous sheep breeds as large variation in performance among indigenous
breeds and their unique attributes (DAGRIS, 2006). The discussion might be indicative that for coastal
sheep improvement fresh water, grazing land and hi-merit rams were very much important issues.
Conclusion
Grazing on green grass and supplying tree leaves were the two main feeding ways, many farmers were
not aware of water safety, majority of the farmers hired workers to rear sheep and many of them
vaccinated their sheep and used anthelmintics for de-worming purpose regularly. Traditional mating
practices is neither an inbreeding system nor an out breeding system, rather it is a mix of the two and
which indicates the clear absence of systematic breeding in coastal sheep at study site. For coastal sheep
improvement fresh water, grazing land and hi-merit rams were very much important.
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