Prosiding Seminar Teknologi dan Agribisnis Peternakan VI: Pengembangan Sumber Daya Genetik Ternak Lokal Menuju Swasembada Pangan Hewani ASUH, Fakultas Peternakan Universitas Jenderal Soedriman, 7 Juli 2018 186 MORPHOMETRIC TRAITS AND BODY WEIGHT AT DIFFERENT AGE OF BATUR SHEEP IN BANJARNEGARA Hassan Ishag Hassan Haren 1 *, Dadang Mulyadi Saleh 2 , Mas Yedi Sumaryadi 3 , Dattadewi Purwantini 4 , and Prayitno 5 1 Faculty of Agriculture, Omdurman Islamic University 2,3,4,5 Faculty of Animal Science, Jenderal Soedirman University *Corresponding author email: haren20101@hotmail.com Abstract. The aim of study was to explore the possibility of genetic diversity within Batur sheep to find indirect parameters for meat production that potentially could be used for selective purposes. The trial was carried out at Banjarnegara under the control of 13 owners with total 69 heads aged between 0.5 and 3 years, depending on age group: 6 months, year and adult. Body weight was recorded in the kilogram, whereas, body measures were taken by tape in the centimeter were Height at withers, Chest Girth and Body Length. Data were analyzed using simple descriptive analyses, GLM, and Correlation procedures by SPSS version 16. Body weight of three age groups were 27.28±1.76, 48.87±1.55 and 69.10a±2.80 kg respectively. Mean of morphometric traits of body dimension performed as follow; length was of 54.10±1.19, 67.28±1.05 and 71.70a±1.91, height at withers was of 53.55±1.30, 60.15±1.14 and 61.50a±2.06, and the chest girth was of 69.26±2.09, 82.28±1.84 and 94.90a±3.33 (cm) respectively for three age groups. Body weight had highest correlations with length of (r = 0.84), and good correlations with chest girth (r = 0.75), whilst lowest and weak correlation between body weight with height of (r = 0.58) and age of (r = 0.45) at any age groups. Keywords: morphometric, body weight, age and Batur sheep INTRODUCTION Batur sheep are the predominant breed in the upland areas of Banjarnegara where they are well adapted to the local cold humid environment. This breed developed by crossing between local breeds (Fat and Thin Tailed Sheep, Garut sheep) and imported breed (Merino) (Prayitno, 2010). Sheep reared in Batur village has similar morphological features as well as Merino and a mix of Merino and local sheep. Batur sheep genetic status is unknown because they do not have a clear pedigree record. Batur sheep has been taking place on upland areas and has made a major contribution to environmental and social development in those areas. They are reared as a vital component of integrated farming activities, especially by small holders of horticulture farming. Commonly, raising sheep for producing meat and lamb, and also producing dung for providing compost (Sodiq et al. 2011). Population of Batur sheep has increased by nine percent over the pass one year (Dinas Pertanian, Perikanan dan Peternakan Kab. Banjarnegara, 2010) with the population dynamic in terms of net rate of numerical growth ranged from -75 up to 400% (Sodiq, 2011). Those figures indicating the vital roles of Batur sheep to the livelihood of rural communities particularly in Batur and Pejawaran sub-districs. At present many countries are losing their genetic resources which may have lasting effects on food security and sustainable development especially in light of global warming changes. More than 20% of documented breeds are classified as at risk of extinction and in the last five years over 60 breeds were lost, approximately one per month (FAO, 2007). Further, an estimated 70% of breeds which do not have information on their extinction risk are to be found in developing countries (Kenene et al., 2009). The use of quantitative information in livestock breeding programmes has become more sophisticated over time. This allows breeders to make faster progress in a