Achievements of the Programme

Improving Sheep Production through Genetic Selection

ACSAD started as from 1972  with a new Programme for improving a number of sheep breeds including Awassi sheep in the Middle East, AL-Barbari sheep in Tunisia and Libya, AL-Barqi sheep in Egypt, AL-Sahrawi sheep in Sudan, the Yemeni sheep in Yemen and Awlad Jalal sheep in Algeria.

Thousands of the improved Awassi sheep, which were genetically selected at Marj AL-Kreim center in Syria, were distributed to the breeders, cooperatives and research centers in Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirate, Bahrain, Yemen and Algeria. Milk production in the selected herd increased from 110 to 230 kg/head and the twins  rate increased from 10% to 49%.