Characterization of the structure of the sheep flocks in the north of La Pampa Province

  • María Bettina Gómez Investigadora
  • Melina Castillo Investigadora
  • Silvia Inés Aguirre Investigadora
  • Walter Díaz
  • Martín Vargas
  • Michel Victor Huber Hick
  • María Flavia Castillo
  • Eduardo Narciso Frank

Abstract

La Pampa Province is located in the central region of Argentina. Its northern part is an agricultural and livestock zone, with a heterogeneous sheep population used for self-consumption and sale of lambs. This study sought to characterize the sheep flocks in the region as to breed composition and population structure. During the years 2012-2013, a survey was conducted involving eight flocks and 1112 sheep on which individual data were obtained. Population structure was determined by collecting biometric, morphological, and compositional information. Laboratory testing of 632 wool samples involved washing and sorting by breed and fiber diameter. Corriedale, Hampshire Down, Creole, Merino, Texel, Pampinta, and Karacul were the breeds represented. Mean fleece weight per head was 3.59 kg and 75.44% of the samples showed fiber diameter greater than 28 μ. In both sexes more than half of the animals were adults and the percentage of replacement stock was low. The proportion of rams per flock was higher than that recommended for the region. In conclusion, the flocks studied are composed mostly of thick-wooled and meat-type sheep. Flock structure shows the disproportions of animals by age and sex, which is detrimental to productive performance.

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Author Biographies

María Bettina Gómez, Investigadora
Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Cátedra de Biología General y Centro de Reproducción y Transferencia de Biotecnologia de Rumiantes Menores.
Melina Castillo, Investigadora
Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Cátedra de Biología General.
Silvia Inés Aguirre, Investigadora
Colaboradora
Walter Díaz
Estudiante. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. UNLPam.
Martín Vargas
Estudiante. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. UNLPam.
Michel Victor Huber Hick
Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias.
María Flavia Castillo
Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias.
Eduardo Narciso Frank
Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias.
Published
2015-09-14
How to Cite
Gómez, María Bettina, Melina Castillo, Silvia Inés Aguirre, Walter Díaz, Martín Vargas, Michel Victor Huber Hick, María Flavia Castillo, and Eduardo Narciso Frank. 2015. “Characterization of the Structure of the Sheep Flocks in the North of La Pampa Province”. Archivos Latinoamericanos De Producción Animal 24 (1). https://ojs.alpa.uy/index.php/ojs_files/article/view/2442.
Section
Original paper