ABSTRACT
Hair sheep are a well-adapted genetic resource contributing to the nutrition and income of producers in the tropics. Hair sheep contribute to several production systems in the tropics. The amount and distribution of rainfall are often principal determinants of system characteristics, but social and economic factors are also influential. Land and climate serve as constraints to sheep production, primarily determining the type and yield of plant species on which sheep feed. Productivity and efficiency are the results of a composite of production traits, with each trait subject to genetic and environmental influences. Few populations of hair sheep are producing to their full potential. One reason is that relatively little effort has been devoted to improving hair sheep and their production environment. The ultimate success of development efforts will depend on an efficient marketing infrastructure to ensure that farmers receive fair value for their sheep and, thus, are encouraged to devote time and resources to improving productivity.
