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1st Int. Transborder Conf. of the Timor Island: Timor %u2013 Science without borderDili, 7-8 May 202536Rote Sheep: A Breed That Is Able To Thrive Under Harsh ClimateM. L. Mullik*, T. O. Dami Dato, A. Nalle, D. Sabat and S. E. MulikFakultas Peternakan, Perikanan dan Kelautan, Universitas Nusa Cendana, Jl. Adisucipto, Kupang, NTT 85001, Indonesia*Corresponding author: marthenmullik@staf.undana.ac.idAbstractRote sheep (DORET) is a thin-tailed sheep (TTS) breed and is the only sheep breed found in the Southeastern islands of Indonesia. Its origin is not known with certainty, nor when or by whom it was brought to Rote Island. Some speculate that it originated from India/Bangladesh, and was brought to Rote Island via the silk and spice trade routes from India to the Moluccas, and then carried by sailors from the Moluccas to Rote. This study aimed at analyzing various biological parameters of the sheep that enable it to thrive in the dry biophysical environment of Rote Island, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. Considering that the data collected consists of both primary and secondary data, the research method chosen was Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA), and all types of RRA approaches were used, namely topical, systematic, and participatory. The stages of activities include desk review, direct observations, semi-structured field surveys, and official meetings. For direct observations and field surveys, all villages were divided into three clusters based on sheep population: high (>1,000 heads), medium (500%u20131,000 heads), and low (<500 heads). Two villages from each cluster were selected as samples. In each village, four farmers were selected using snowball sampling technique for interviews, and observations and measurements were also carried out on the sheep owned by the selected farmers. Official meetings were conducted with veterinary officers at sub-district level, agricultural extension workers, and head of livestock Department of Rote Ndao District. Literature review was conducted for journal articles, development reports, and statistical data for the past 10 years. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were analyzed and described. The results showed that DORET has adapted well and continues to grow and spread across all sub-districts in Rote island (although not in all villages). For the last ten years, average sheep population grows at a rate of 5.03% or equal to 1,079 sheep per year. In 2024, the population reached 28,931 head and was raised by 679 farming households, averaging 43 sheep per household, yet some farmers own between 400 and 500 head per household. Distribution of DORET is uneven and does not correlate with land area of the sub-districts; for example, in Rote Barat Daya Sub-district, which has an area of 114.57 km%u00b2, the sheep population is 7,530 head, compared to Rote Tengah Sub-district, which covers 162.50 km%u00b2 but has only 700 head of sheep. The sheep are raised using a semi-intensive system, where they graze in pastures during the day (around 07:00%u201317:00) and are sheltered at night. No supplementary feed is provided, making sheep productivity highly dependent on the availability of forage in the pasture. This results in relatively low livestock productivity. In terms of productivity, DORET sheep have relatively small body frame, with the average adult male weighing 27.8 kg and the female 20.3 kg. Production and reproduction performance data from Rote-Ndao Livestock Department are as follows: average birth weight is 1.4 %u00b1 0.08 kg, lambing interval is 10%u201312 months, litter size is 1%u20132 lambs per birth, and mortality rate is around 3%. It might be concluded that DORET is a thin tail sheep has been raised by farmers in Rote island since long time ago, and it has adapted very well to hot and dry environment. It can be seen from an average annual sheep population growth 5.03%. However, its productivity is relatively low due to management issues. Keywords: Domba Rote, draught tolerant, Rote Island, sheep productivity.