Abstract:
This study was conducted in Adiyo and Telo districts of Kaffa zone, aiming to evaluate the performances of Bonga sheep and their
response to estrus synchronization flushed with indigenous feeds under different management conditions. Eight representative kebeles
were purposively selected based on CBBPs and sheep population presence. From each kebele, the farmers with ewes were registered
and 200 respondents were randomly assigned using Kothari, (2004). In the current study LI 9.4 ± 0.18 months, DO 20.2 ± 0.13 days
and LS 1.4 ± 0.04 were obtained and LI was shorter (8.5 ± 0.22 months) in CBBP than 10.5 ± 0.28 months in non-participants. The BWT,
WWT and 6 MWT were 3.8 ± 0.06, 16.0 ± 0.10 and 27.8 ± 0.33 kg and the values for PrWDG and PoWDG were136.0 gm/day and 133.0 ±
0.02 gm/day respectively. In the experimental study the onset and duration of estrus were 45.9 ± 2, 43.1 ± 2.37 and 48.0 ± 2.61; 45.6 ±
1.55 hours in short and long flushed ewes accordingly. Estrus response, conception, lambing rate and LS were 68, 70.59, 72.22%, 1.38 and
84, 83.3, 90% and 1.42 for short and long flushing sequentially. Flushing with indigenous feeds in long-term flushing presented better
results regarding the positive manifestation of estrus, conception lambing rate, liter size and onset, and duration of estrus. Therefore,
long term (28 days) flushing was an effective strategy to increase ewes’ reproductive performance.
Keywords: Bonga sheep, Ewe flushing, Reproductive performance, Indigenous feed
