Flock dynamics, body condition and weight variation in sheep in two ecologically different resource-poor communal farming systems

The flock dynamics and body conditions of sheep in two ecologically different communal areas were determined. Twenty-one and 15 randomly selected sheep farmers were monitored for 12 months in Gaga (sweetveld) and Sompondo (sourveld) communal areas, respectively. Sheep production potential (SPP) (P < 0.05) differed between the two areas. Sheep production efficiency (SPE) was affected (P < 0.05) by season and flock size. Large flocks had higher SPE values than small flocks. The SPE ranged from 1.1 ± 0.19 in April to 1.6 ± 0.19 in December. Total entrances for each flock were higher (P < 0.05) in the hot-dry months and the hot-wet months. Most of the lambs were born in the hot-dry season and the cool-dry season. High lamb mortalities were experienced in the post-rainy and hot-wet months. Foot-rot, gall sickness and heart water were the main causes of death of ewes across the two villages. Theft, road accidents and predation were also reported for both lambs and adult sheep in the two villages. Sheep in the sweetveld had higher body weight and condition scores than those in the sourveld. The SPP and SPE were better in the sweetveld than in the sourveld.