The Preferences for sheep traits among male keepers in El Oued, Algeria: socio-cultural and breeding insights
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5380/avs.v31i2.102881Keywords:
Breeding programs, Livelihoods, Sheep Keepers, Trait selection, Productivity.Abstract
Identifying farmer trait preferences is fundamental to designing participatory breeding programs adapted to local agroecological constraints, yet such data remain scarce for Algeria’s arid zones. This study investigated sheep trait preferences and their socioeconomic determinants among male sheep keepers in El Oued Province, southeastern Algeria. A mixed-method approach combining structured questionnaires and qualitative interviews was applied to 200 randomly selected male sheep keepers registered in the 2023 national sheep census, covering eight municipalities across the province. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and chi-square tests were used to assess the influence of age, education, experience, and occupation on trait prioritization. For rams, breed identity (27%), body conformation (12.5%), and apparent health status (12%) emerged as the most valued selection criteria. For ewes, breed (22%), drought tolerance (16%), and udder size (10%) were ranked highest, reflecting the paramount importance of environmental adaptability and reproductive functionality under arid conditions. Locally adapted breeds, particularly Ouled Djellal, were strongly favored. A significant three-way interaction among education, experience, and occupation (Pillai’s Trace = 0.070, p = 0.009) indicated that farmers with higher education, greater experience, and full-time breeding status prioritized long-term resilience traits, while less experienced or less educated keepers favored readily observable morphological attributes. Farmer age and education level were independently associated with drought tolerance preference in ewes (p = 0.036 and p = 0.004, respectively). These findings provide a socio-ecological evidence base to support the design of context-specific, participatory breeding programs targeting genetic resilience and sustainable livestock production in North African drylands
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