Evaluation of the productive performance of Colombian hair sheep based on growth traits

Contextualization: Colombian hair sheep [CHS] are animals of great importance, because their genetic material has been adapting for more than 500 years to the environment; besides, these animals have a transcendental role in Colombia for their contribution to food security and family economy. However, a great part of the sheep production in the country presents low production parameters. Knowledge gap: ignorance of Colombian hair sheep (CHS) biotypes’ productivity has led to the undervaluation of the genetic resource found in these animals, accompanied by insufficient efforts to improve sheep production systems. Purpose of the study: determine the productive performance of three biotypes of Colombian hair sheep. Methodology: this study was conducted in these biotypes of hair sheep: Ethiopian [CHSE] (40 individuals), Sudan [CHSS] (60) and Creole crossed with Pelibuey [CHSP] (60). Five growth traits [birth weight, adjusted weaning weight at 90 days, adjusted final weight at the age of 1 year, and pre-weaning and post-weaning weight gain] were evaluated. Descriptive statistical and variance analysis were performed based on variables such as sex, farm, type of birth, parent, and season of birth. Also, a Duncan's multiple range test was performed. Results and conclusions: CHSE showed low productive parameters that were mostly affected by the variables sex and farm [p ≤ 0.05]. CHSs displayed a low to moderate productive performance and many traits were also affected by sex and farm [p ≤ 0.05]. Lastly, CHSP showed moderate to high productive parameters, which were mainly affected by parent, season, and type of birth [p ≤ 0.05]. The results determined the productive performance of the three sheep biotypes, among which CHSE showed low growth parameters, CHSS showed low to moderate parameters, and CHSP displayed moderate to high parameters. In all cases, the three biotypes were mostly affected by non-genetic variables.