GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF DESERT SHEEP UNDER GRAZING CONDITIONS IN NORTH KORDOFAN STATE

The experiment was conducted to study the effect of changing the nomadic husbandry practices during summer with feed supplementation and water restriction on the performance, carcass characteristics of desert sheep (Hamari sub type). Thirty desert sheep of about 8 month age were randomly allocated to three groups (ten animals each, 5 males and 5 females), group (A) watered daily and supplemented with concentrates, (B) watered daily only and (C) watered every 2- 3 days and was considered as control (the normal nomadic husbandry). The results included that average final live weights were significantly (P<0.05) different among the groups and were not significantly affected by sex but males in group A were heavier than the other two groups. The tail length, height at withers, heart girth, chest depth and body length were significant (P<0.05) different between the three groups. The average daily live weight gain was significantly (P<0.05) different among the groups, and the highest rate of gain was in A followed by B and C, respectively. The average daily live weight gains obtained were significantly (P<0.05) different between females and males of groups A, B and C. The males gave higher daily live weight gains than females. These results concluded that management strategy which involves shorter watering intervals and feed supplementation will probably reflect positively on the performance of Hamari sheep under range conditions.