Menz sheep

Description

The natural habitat of Menz sheep is North Shoa and parts of Wollo Zone of the Amhara Region. These areas lie within 39-40 E longitudes and 10-11 N latitudes. Altitude in most cases is above 2500 m.a.s.l. with a cold, harsh climate that occasionally has frost, particularly between November and January. The mean annual precipitation is between 900 and 1360 mm and the rainfall pattern is bimodal.

Menz sheep are the most prominent coarse wool bearing sheep in Ethiopia. The body is compact and mostly covered with coarse hair with a wooly undercoat. The people in the area use the coarse wool to make a cloak, locally called “Bernos,” and rugs. The coat color is black or dark brown, perhaps with white spots on the head, neck and legs. Other colors such as light brown, roan and white also exist.

The head has a straight profile and is free of any wool cover. Rams mostly have twisted horns while ewes are usually hornless. Menz sheep have small ears with a downward-forward inclination. This breed has no dewlap and wattles are very rare. The tail is short and fat and has a broad base, ending halfway to the hocks with a slight twist at the end. Menz sheep are not known to be a docile breed.

The mean height at the shoulders is 64 cm and 58 cm for adult rams and ewes, respectively. Menz sheep weigh about 2.3, 11 and 26-30 kg at birth, Figure 2.9. Menz ewes – Mehal Meda area, North Shoa. weaning (90 days) and one year of age, respectively. Ewe mature weight is estimated to be about 35 kg. Twin births are common, sometimes up to 60%.