The Uda sheep is a breed of domestic sheep from Africa. It is common in Chand, Northern Cameroon, Northern Nigeria and Niger. There are many varieties of this sheep breed.
But usually the back half is white and the front half is brown or black. The breed is also known by some other names such as Pied, Ouda, North Nigerian Fulani, Louda, Houda, Foulbe, Fellata, Bororo, Bali-Bali and Oudah bicolore (French).
It is one of the hair sheep breeds of the Sahel type. The Uda sheep represents the other common type of West African sheep breeds, apart from the West African Dwarf sheep.
Today the breed is available in Chand, Norther Cameroon, Niger and Northern Nigeria. And the breed is raised mainly for meat production. However, review full breed profile of the Uda sheep below.
Uda Sheep Characteristics
Uda sheep is a small to medium sized animal. It has very distinctive markings, with the back half being white and the front half of the body is brown or black.
Although the color is more variable in certain places, and they can be wholly red or white with red spots or splotches. Coat of these animals is short and stiff, being composed of hair rather than wool.
The ewes are polled and the rams have horns. And horns of the rams are spiral that project horizontally from the head. The ears of the Uda sheep are long and dropped, and the ears can either be white or the same color as the head.
Both rams and ewes are about of same size, and they stand around 60 to 65 cm tall at the withers. The average weight of an adult Uda sheep ranges from 35-45 kg for males and 30-40 kg for females.
Temperament
Uda sheep are generally docile, calm, and obedient. They can adapt well to different environmental conditions and have good resistance to diseases.
Although they are not as active and playful as other breeds of sheep, they can be easily trained and are known for their high degree of intelligence.
Reproductive Behavior
Uda sheep reach sexual maturity at around six months of age. They have a reproductive cycle that lasts for about 21 days and can give birth to one or two lambs at a time. The gestation period for Uda sheep is approximately 147 days, after which the ewes give birth to healthy and robust lambs.
Feeding Habits
Uda sheep are herbivorous and mainly feed on grass, leaves, and shrubs. They require a high protein diet to maintain their body weight and produce quality milk.
Uda sheep can graze for long hours in the fields and have good digestive systems that allow them to extract maximum nutrients from their food.
Benefits of Raising Uda Sheep
- Meat Production: Uda sheep are primarily raised for their meat, which is tender, juicy, and flavorful. The meat has low-fat content and is rich in essential amino acids, making it a healthy protein source.
- Milk Production: Uda sheep also produce good quality milk, which is high in protein and essential nutrients. The milk is used to make various dairy products such as cheese, butter, and yogurt.
- Wool Production: Although the wool of Uda sheep is not as dense as other breeds of sheep, it is still used to make various textiles and clothing items.
- Drought Resistance: Uda sheep are well adapted to the hot and dry climate of Africa, making them an ideal breed for farmers who face drought conditions.
Uses
Uda sheep is a meat sheep breed. It is raised mainly for meat production.
Special Notes
The Uda sheep are very hardy and strong animals. They are a very robust breed of domesticated sheep, and they can survive the high temperatures and aridity of the Sahel region.
They are usually healthy and usually require minimal caring. They require minimum care mainly due to the aridity of where they are traditionally reared.
Although, they are not immune to the insect-borne diseases of the rainforest regions of West Africa. In terms of temperament, the Uda sheep are docile.
They are easily managed and having been selected to work closely with humans. They also have a high stamina levels, having been selected over generations to travel with nomadic and semi-nomadic peoples.
These animals usually interact very well with people and can be excellent as pets, even for small children. However, review full breed profile of the Uda sheep in the following chart.
| Breed Name | Uda |
| Other Name | Also known by some other names such as Pied, Ouda, North Nigerian Fulani, Louda, Houda, Foulbe, Fellata, Bororo, Bali-Bali and Oudah bicolore (French). |
| Breed Purpose | Meat |
| Special Notes | Strong and hardy, robust, can survive the high temperatures and aridity of the Sahel region, generally healthy, require minimal care, docile, good to work closely with humans, have a very high stamina levels, good for raising as pets |
| Breed Size | Small to medium |
| Horns | Rams have horns, but the ewes are polled |
| Climate Tolerance | Native climates |
| Color | Front half is brown or black, and rare half is white, and can also be of other colors |
| Rarity | Common |
| Country/Place of Origin | Africa |
