Phenotypic Characteristics of Different Sheep Breeds at Aliyah Rizq Farm Johor, Malaysia

Abstract

Phenotypic characterization of exotic sheep breeds and their crossbred offspring is essential for supporting selection and breeding programs in tropical farm settings. This study aimed to identify the phenotypic characteristics including ear shape, horn presence, tail shape, color pattern, and color type of five exotic sheep breeds (Whitehead Dorper, Blackhead Dorper, Merino, Santa Ines, and Barbados Blackbelly) and their crossbred offspring produced from Malin dams at Aliyah Rizq Farm (ARF), Malaysia. A total of 221 sheep, consisting of 14 full-blood rams and 207 crossbred offspring (108 male, 99 female) were observed through direct visual observation. Phenotypic characteristic traits were analyzed descriptively using relative frequency. Results showed that all rams were polled and exhibited plain color patterns with breed-specific color types. Among offspring, horn presence was sex-influenced, with 37.96% of males horned and all females polled. Thin tail was predominant in male offspring (100%), while female offspring showed greater variation. Color type was more diverse in offspring than in rams, with Blackhead Dorper and Whitehead Dorper crosses showing stronger ram color expression. These findings provide a phenotypic database that can support selection and breeding management decisions at ARF.

Karakterisasi fenotipik domba eksotik dan hasil persilangan diperlukan untuk mendukung program seleksi dan pemuliabiakan di peternakan tropis. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan karakteristik fenotipik kualitatif meliputi bentuk telinga, keberadaan tanduk, bentuk ekor, pola warna, dan tipe warna dari lima breed domba eksotik (Whitehead Dorper, Blackhead Dorper, Merino, Santa Ines, dan Barbados Blackbelly) serta anak silangnya dengan domba Malin di Aliyah Rizq Farm (ARF), Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Sebanyak 221 ekor domba, terdiri atas 14 pejantan murni (rams) dan 207 anak silang (108 jantan, 99 betina), diamati melalui pengamatan visual langsung. Data dianalisis secara deskriptif menggunakan frekuensi relatif. Hasil menunjukkan seluruh pejantan tidak bertanduk dan memiliki pola warna polos dengan tipe warna spesifik sesuai breed. Pada hasil persilangan, keberadaan tanduk dipengaruhi jenis kelamin, dengan 37,96% jantan bertanduk dan seluruh betina tidak bertanduk. Ekor tipis dominan pada anak jantan (100%), sedangkan anak betina menunjukkan variasi lebih besar. Tipe warna lebih beragam pada anak silang dibandingkan pejantan, dengan silangan Blackhead Dorper dan Whitehead Dorper menunjukkan ekspresi warna pejantan yang lebih kuat. Hasil penelitian ini memberikan basis data fenotipik yang dapat mendukung keputusan manajemen seleksi dan pemuliabiakan di ARF.