TITLE:
Exploitation and Reproductive Characteristics of Sheep in the Sudano-Sahelian Zone of Cameroon
AUTHORS:
Tadakeng Yannick Djoufack, Keubeng Ermine Lepawouah, Félix Meutchieye, Patrick J. Ngono-Ema, Bamare H. Djomtchaigue, Justin Kouamo
KEYWORDS:
Exploitation Characteristics, Litter Size, Birth Weight, Sheep, Cameroon
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Animal Sciences,
Vol.15 No.2,
March
11,
2025
ABSTRACT: The study was carried out with the objective of contributing to a better knowledge of the exploitation and reproductive characteristics of sheep in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of Cameroon. For this purpose, a sample of 324 ewes and their lambs were observed at birth on 124 farms. Exploitation characteristics data mainly focused on herd management, housing, feeding, health, and reproduction. Reproductive characteristics focused on litter size and lamb birth weight for each female. The main results show that the majority of the breeders surveyed (79.03%) inherited the sheep from their parents. Pastoralism is the most practiced management method (83.87%) and the most common type of housing is huts (50.00%). Animals find their food mainly in natural rangelands (96.77%). 21.77% of animals receive food supplements and 29.03% mineral supplements. 91.94% of animals receive vaccines and veterinary care. Mating takes place naturally (100%) in enclosures or on pasture. Single births are the most frequent (72.73%) and ewes receiving food and mineral supplements have higher litter sizes (1.52 ± 0.15 and 1.53 ± 0.12). The highest litter sizes (p