Th. Murayi1) A.R. Sayers2) & R.T. Wilson2)
1. Institut des Sciences Agronomiques du Rwanda (ISAR), Station de Songa, B.P. 138, Butare, Rwanda.2. Centre International pour l'Elevage en Afrique (ILCA), B.P. 5689, Addis Abéba, Ethiopie
Summary
Results of preliminary analyses of the production of the Rwanda sheep (African long-fat-tailed type) under station management are presented. Age at first lambing was 713.7 days, lambing interval was 406.0 days and litter size was 1.38 young per birth. Liveweight gain to 150 days (weaning) was 81.3 g/d. Abortions totalled 2.9 per cent of all parturitions. Total mortality rate to weaning was 17.5 per cent. Litter weight at weaning was 18.8 kg. Production of the local sheep, expressed as productivity indices, could be improved without resorting to out-crossing by reducing both the parturition interval and the pre-weaning mortality rate.
