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Body and fleece weights of woollen sheep in veld communal rangelands of the Eastern Cape Province

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the live weight, body condition scores (BCS) and fleece weight of sheep in four smallholder farming communities of Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Among the four communities studied, two (Roxeni and Tyabane) were in sweetveld and other two (Luzi I and Luzi II) were in a sourveld. Roxeni and Luzi communities were also engaged in the ram exchange project with the National Wool Growers Association (NWGA). Sixty crossbred ewes and 20 non-descript ewes aged 2 to 3 years were randomly selected from the four communities studied and were measured during their annual shearing in October. They were assessed for average greasy fleece weight per head, body condition score and live weight after shearing. Roxeni sheep were heavier (39.9 ± 1.10 kg) than Tyabane sheep (29.8 ± 1.10 kg). Sheep from Tyabane had the lightest (P <0.05) fleece weight (1.0 ± 1.10 kg) than Roxeni sheep (3.1 ± 1.10 kg). The 2-year-old ewes had similar (P ≥ 0.05) live weight to that of the 3-year-old ewes. However, the 3-year-old ewes had higher (3.3 ± 0.11) (P < 0.05) body condition scores than the 2-year-old ewes (2.8 ± 0.10). Two-year-old ewes also had lower (1.9 ± 0.11 kg) (P < 0.05) fleece weight than the 3-year-old ewes (2.3 ± 0.10 kg). It was concluded that sheep that were raised in the sweetveld had higher live and fleece weights than the ones that were raised on the sourveld. The communities that were engaged on ram exchange project had sheep with higher live weights, body condition score and fleece weight.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Cape Wools South Africa (CWSA) for financial support. We appreciate the technical supports received from (Mr.: Sizwe Soga, Loyiso Ndima and Mjelo Gcobani) of the Departmental of Livestock and Pasture Science (University of Fort Hare) in the process of data gathering. Appreciation also goes to all the communal farmers and extension officers participated in the study.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest pertaining publication of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Livestock and Pasture Science, University of Fort Hare, P. Bag X1314, Alice, 5700, South Africa

    Sivuyile Alex Mvinjelwa, Viola Maphosa & Voster Muchenje

  2. Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institute, Private Bag X529, Middelburg, 5900, South Africa

    Monde Mapekula

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  1. Sivuyile Alex Mvinjelwa
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  2. Monde Mapekula
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  3. Viola Maphosa
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  4. Voster Muchenje
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Correspondence to Viola Maphosa.

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Mvinjelwa, S.A., Mapekula, M., Maphosa, V. et al. Body and fleece weights of woollen sheep in veld communal rangelands of the Eastern Cape Province. Trop Anim Health Prod 46, 913–918 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-014-0584-7

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