Evaluation of improved sheep breeds in pastoral areas of Yabello district, Southern Oromia, Ethiopia

This study was conducted at Yabello district of Borana zone with the objectives evaluating productive performance 25% Dorper crossbred and local blackhead Somali sheep under agro pastoralists’ conditions, creating awareness, improving knowledge skill. The training given to selected pastoralists, development agents, experts on importance management improved sheep. A total four F1 50% were provided for two established Pastoralists’ Research Groups (PRGs). Both quantitative qualitative data collected using appropriate methods. analyzed simple descriptive statistics an independent sample t-test while pairwise ranking narration result indicated that ram significantly higher in birth weight, weight 6 months, yearling (marketable) 12 months compared Moreover, had better marketability, meat, drought, disease resistance their counterparts. As a result, all concerned parties should make crosses more popular scaled up order improve areas. Key words: Dorper, evaluation, Somali.