SHEEP PRODUCTION IN THE HUMID ZONE OF WEST AFRICA .2. GROWTH-PERFORMANCE AND LIVEWEIGHT OF SHEEP IN IMPROVED AND TRADITIONAL PRODUCTION SYSTEMS IN COTE-DIVOIRE

The present investigation deals with growth performance of lambs of 63 flocks (traditional village and town flocks, improved village flocks) in South-East Cote d'Ivoire. Most lamb weights (30-, 60-, 90-, 120- and 150-day weights) were significantly influenced by birth season. Lambs born during the dry season reached the highest weights. In the traditional village flocks 150-day weight of lambs of small (> 25 sheep), free-roaming flocks was significantly higher than that of lambs of larger (> 25 sheep), herded flocks. There was no significant effect of the preceding lambing interval on lamb weights in the improved village flocks. A 150-day weight of 11.4 kg in the traditional village flocks shows satisfactory weight development of lambs in these flocks due to the good feed resources in the humid zone of Cote d'Ivoire. In the improved village flocks the 150-day weight of lambs averaged 12.9 kg. Post-partum weight of ewes in these flocks was 24.5 kg.