Breeds of Sheep in Nigeria & Their Characteristics

In recent times, Nigerians are gradually seeing the gains of livestock farming which has led to an increased interest in this type of farming.

One of the most lucrative types of livestock rearing is the rearing of sheep which has become quite popular in different parts of the country. This type of farming is one where you can make your money in many ways. First, you can earn revenue from selling of the animal for its meat, milk, fur, hide and skin. The meat of the sheep is called mutton.

In Nigeria the male sheep is called the ram and it is quite popular in the country especially during the Islamic festive periods. The period of celebration during the Muslim festive days usually involves the slaughter of ram which is usually eaten by the Muslims during their merrymaking

There are four main breeds of sheep in Nigeria and these breeds include the Balami, Uda, west African Dwarf sheep and Yankasa.

Let’s take a look at these breeds one at a time.

  • Balami

Balami is most predominant in the North eastern part of Nigeria. The Balami is a predominantly white and hairy breed with a pronounced convex heat and a dull depression. It has a dewlap-like fold of skin with white mane. The ear is large and droopy. The tail is long. Horns are prominent in rams and are usually absent in ewes. The Balami is fast growing and attains a weaning weight of 18 kg in 12 weeks. The yearling weight is 35 – 40kg for ewes and 45 – 60kg for rams.

The Balami sheep breed is found mostly in Borno State. It is a very large local sheep breed in Nigeria and it is mostly reared for meat production and just like the Uda sheep breed, it can survive in very hot and dry environment. The characteristics of Balami sheep breed include the following:

  • It has very large and droopy ears with thin and long tails.
  • The males (rams) have horns while the ewes (female sheep) have no horns.
  • The ram weighs between 40kg – 60kg at maturity while the ewes weigh between 30kg – 45kg at maturity.
  • The skin color of the Balami is predominantly white.
  • The shape of the face is distinctively convex.

 

  • Uda

It is found mostly in the Sahel-Sudan vegetation of Nigeria, which is mostly in the North West geopolitical zone of the country. The Uda is among the four major breeds of sheep found in Nigeria today. This particular sheep breed has the ability to survive in any dry and hot environment. The one thing that is bag about this particular sheep breed in Nigeria is their very low survival rate outside their immediate environment.

It is a large and long-lopped breed with a convex facial profile. The coat colour is entirely brown or black from the forehead anterior to the limber-abdominal girth line and white posterior. The ears are long large and pendulous. The rams have large wide and spiral horns, which are usually absent in the ewes. The breed appears to thrive in hot, dry environment and suffers from poor survival outside this ecological zone; it is particularly adapted to extensive grazing and is renowned for its trekking abilities. Mature weights range from 35 – 45kg for ewes and 45 – 55kg for rams.

The characteristics of the Uda Breed include the following:

  • It has a very distinct skin color pattern. The front part of the sheep is either brown or black while the posterior part is white in color.
  • It has very long and large legs with swinging earlobes.
  • Mature rams of this sheep breed have wide, large and spiral horns while the ewes have no horns.
  • The adult ram of the Uda breed weighs between 35kg – 60kg while their female counterpart weighs between 30kg – 45kg.
  • This sheep breed is adapted to an extensive type of grazing.

 

  • Yankasa

The Yankasa breed is widely distributed in the northern part of Nigeria. In size it is intermediate between Uda and the West African Dwarf sheep. The coat colour of Yankasa is typically white with black patches around the eyes, ear, muzzle and sometimes the feet. The rams have curved horns and heavy hairy white mane. Some of the ewes have tassels on the neck. Mature weights are 25 – 40 kg for ewes and 35 – 50 kg for rams.

The characteristics of the Yankasa sheep breed include the following:

  • The rams possess white curved horns with heavy hairy white mane around their neck.
  • It has a long and thin tail with moderately long and droopy ears.
  • They are mainly white in color with patches of black around their eyes, ears, muscle, and feet.
  • The adult Yankasa ram weighs between 30kg – 45kg, while the adult ewe (female sheep) weighs between 25kg – 40kg.

 

  • West African Dwarf Sheep

The West African dwarf sheep is widely distributed in the southern Nigeria, the breed is small compact hardy breed with a wide range of coat colours which may be all white, black or brown or spotted black or brown on a white coat. The breed is considered to be tolerant to Trypanosomiasis. Mature weights are 20 – 25kg for ewes and 25 – 30 kg for rams.

Just like the name implies, the West African dwarf sheep breed is very small in size compared to the Uda and Balami breeds. It is mostly found in the Southern and South-Western part of Nigeria. This particular breed of sheep is very strong and resistant to Trypanosomiasis infection and disease.

The characteristics of the West African Dwarf breed include the following:

  • It comes in different color combinations. Some are all white in color, all black, or even brown while others have a black or brown spot on a white coat.
  • Many of them have wattles around their neck.
  • The rams have horns while the ewes do not have. At full maturity, the rams weigh between 20kg – 30kg while the ewes weigh between 14kg – 25kg.
You May Also Like

John C. McGinley’s Net Worth, Biography, Career, Awards, Fact and Life Story

John C. McGinley Net Worth and Salary: John C. McGinley is an American television and film actor who has a net worth of $10 million. Famous for roles in television projects such as “Scrubs” and in movies like “Office Space,” McGinley has truly made his mark on the entertainment world. Outside of his substantial acting career, John has branched off into producing and writing for various film and TV projects. In terms of activism, he is widely renowned for his work with Down syndrome charities and organizations, such as the Global Down Syndrome Foundation and the National Down Syndrome Society.Early Life: John C. McGinley was born on August 3rd of 1959 in Greenwich Village, New York. Raised in Millburn, New Jersey alongside four siblings by a schoolteacher and a stockbroker, McGinley excelled on the football field during his high school years. Although he was a skilled wide receiver, John eventually veered towards the performing arts. After studying acting at Syracuse University, he was accepted into the widely-renowned Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.Career: John C. McGinley started his acting career with a variety of both TV and theater roles. These included a number of Broadway and off-Broadway productions. McGinley also gained early success in television with a recurring role on the soap opera “Another World” for two years. In 1984, John’s career took a major step forward after he signed up as an understudy for John Turturro in a Broadway production of “Danny and the Deep Blue Sea.” Luckily for McGinley, Oliver Stone spotted him during one performance and requested that he audition for his new film, “Platoon.”This sparked a multi-decade series of collaborations between Stone and McGinley, starting with “Platoon.” The iconic Vietnam war film won a number of awards, including four Academy Awards. “Platoon” was also a commercial success, having grossed almost $140 million on a budget of $6 million. McGinley played a major role in the ensemble cast, and it helped him break through as an actor – despite him booking his first film role earlier that year in “Sweet Liberty.” “Platoon” was the first of a trilogy of Vietnam films directed by Oliver Stone, and John also appeared in the second film, “Born on the Fourth of July.”McGinley collaborated with Oliver Stone again one year after “Platoon” with “Wall Street.” Oliver Stone then cast him twice more in 1988’s “Talk Radio,” and in 1989’s “Born on the Fourth of July,” completing a four-year string of Stone and McGinley working together. John wrapped up the 80s with a variety of different achievements, including commercial work, an appearance on the celebrity segment of “American Gladiators,” and writing the 1990 film “Suffering Bastards.”After also appearing in “Suffering Bastards,” McGinley worked consistently throughout the 90s. One major appearance was in the 1991 film “Point Break” alongside Keanu Reeves. John played an FBI agent in the movie, which grossed over $83 million at the box office and became a cult hit. Also in 1991, McGinley appeared in “Highlander II: The Quickening.” In 1992, he followed up with “Article 99” before following up two years later with “Wagons East.”In 1995, McGinley booked a starring role in the film “Seven” alongside Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman. The film was a massive commercial hit, grossing over $327 million worldwide. “Seven” also received strong reviews and was nominated for an Academy Award. In addition, the film won a Saturn Award for Best Writing. A year later, McGinley followed up with “The Rock,” and then the film “Set It Off.” Towards the end of the decade, John appeared in the film “Nothing to Lose.”Another iconic role for McGinley came with 1999’s “Office Space.” John played Bob Slydell, an office employee with a strange obsession with Michael Bolton. Despite later becoming a cult hit, “Office Space” was a box office disappointment and grossed just over $12 million on a budget of $10 million. However, Mike Judge’s film later achieved cult status and generated strong home video sales. John C. McGinley is also known for his small role in the film “Wild Hogs,” in which he played a gay highway patrolman.Outside of his mainstream film work, John C. McGinley has been a regular fixture in a number of independent films over the years. In 2016, he starred in three separate independent films; “The Belko Experiment,” “The Good Catholic,” and “Rounding Third.” Other independent films of note include “Crazy as Hell,” “Johns,” and “Two Tickets to Paradise.”In terms of television work, John has been equally prolific. One of his first major TV roles came in 1997 with the drama miniseries “Intensity.” After appearing in the series “Sole Survivor,” McGinley booked the role of Dr. Perry Cox in the series “Scrubs.” This became one of his most widely-popular roles. In 2012, McGinley joined the cast of “Burn Notice” as a CIA trainer. In 2016, he also booked a major role in the series “Stan Against Evil.”In addition, John C. McGinley is an accomplished voice actor, having voiced characters in series such as “Clone High,” “Kim Possible,” “Spider-Man: The New Animated Series,” “Justice League Unlimited,” “The Boondocks,” “Robot Chicken,” and many others. John also appeared in a range of Broadway productions over the course of his career, including a 2013 Broadway revival of “Glengarry Glen Ross,” which he has referred to as one of the high points in his entire life.Relationships: In 1997, John C. McGinley married Lauren Lambert. Later that year, they had their first child together. It was later revealed that his child had Down syndrome. Ever since the birth of his first child, he has been a very active and outspoken participant in various Down syndrome charities and organizations. John and Lauren divorced in 2001.In 2006, he became engaged to Nichole Kessler, a yoga instructor. The pair were married later that year, and they have two daughters together.Brand Endorsements: John C. McGinley has endorsed a number of brands over the years. He has appeared in commercials for brands like Subaru, Miller Lite, State Farm, and others. He has also appeared in advertisements for the Champions Tour.Real Estate/Investments: In 1994 John paid $650 thousand for a house in Malibu, California. Today the home is likely worth around $4 million.McGinley and fellow actor Willem Dafoe have an ownership interest in one of Billy Gilroy’s New York SoHo bistros. He is an avid fan of the Detroit Red Wings.
Read More