Factors affecting small ruminant holdings within the crop-livestock farming system in Sohag Governorate, Egypt

Abstract EN

In 2004-2005 data were collected on 420 farmers (35 farmers from four villages within Jirjah, Dohag and Akhmim districts) selected at random from eleven districts in Sohag governorate.

Average sheep and goat number per household in the districts studied was 15.1 and 5.7 heads, respectively.

Among the factors affecting sheep and goat production, family size and village within district had significant effect on number of sheep.

Similarly, district had significant effect on all gender- age classes of sheep and goats except males less than one year and more than two years in sheep and male more than two years in goats.

Significant relationships were observed between number of buffaloes and berseem (Egyptian clover) area ; crossbred cattle and darawa area; and sheep and animal units and family size.

As family size increased by one member animal unit increased by 0.11, most of these increases were from sheep, which is most responsive in meeting family needs.

Stepwise analysis show only buffaloes and AU had an R2 of > 0.40.