may have a direct influence on the income and quality of life of part of this population.Most part of the northeastern sheep flocks consistsof animals of nondescript and locally adapted breeds.
Asobserved in other developing countries, a large part oflocally adapted breeds in Brazil is at risk of extinction.The Morada Nova breed is one of the main locally adaptedbreeds in northeastern Brazil (Paiva et al., 2005, 2006). Previous studies indicate the suitability of this breed for meat