Sheep - AgRIS

The secretion of milk takes place day and night but it is slowed up by the pressure ofthe
accumulated milk in the udder. So milking the animals at regular intervals gives the best
results. Feeding should also be done at the same time each day. When possible it is preferable
that the same person manages the ewes/goats.
Milk is a food and should be treated with the utmost cleanliness and sanitation. Keep the
wool clipped from around the flank and udder to prevent dirt from collecting, which might fall
into the milk. Brush the ewe daily or at more frequent intervals. Wash the udder or wipe it with
a damp cloth before milking. The person doing the milking must have clean hands and clothes.
Milking utensils must be clean. Milk in a clean environment away from the ram.
9. 6.4 Edible and non-edible offal
For effecting an improvement in quality and to increase the quantity of casings collected
for processing, the first essential step is improvement in the conditions prevailing in the
slaughter houses. Modernisation of slaughter houses and provision of a byproduct wing in them
are absolutely essential. However, pending modernisation an interim measure to improve the
qualityof the casings immediately would be to make provision for adequate water supply in the
existing slaughter houses so that the guts are cleaned properly within the precincts, and with the
least possible delay.
In many slaughter houses, guts are not removed soon after the slaughter of animals. This
results in deterioration of the quality of guts. As such, it should be made obligatory on butchers
to remove guts within prescribed hours. The byproducts wing of each slaughter house should
have a processing unit for guts under hygienic conditions. Guts may then be sorted out
according to calibre, grade etc. thus making it easy for the exporter as well as the processor to
do only the final grading. This would fetch a better price for the graded product.
9. 6.5 Skins and Hides
Hides of all animals which die cannot be fully claimed as arrangements for timely flaying
of dead animals are not available in many parts of the country. Loss of hides of aniamls lost in
floods, famines and those dying in remote areas has been estimated to range between 4 and 10
percent in different parts of the country. In the case of skins, the wastage due to non-collection
is negligible, the major proportion of skins being recovered from slaughtered stock. The
estimated annual loss of skins due to non-collection from dead stock has been reckoned at 1 to
2 per cent.
Though India stands second in the world in the production of hides and fifth in the matter of
production of skins, it cannot forge ahead in capitalising on its large production unless stress is
laid on quality right from the initial stages of production. As such, improved methods of flaying
should be introduced in the slaughter houses and better flaying should be encouraged by
payment of premia to good flayers. The all India Kahdi and Village Industries Commission has
set up a number of flaying centres in the rural areas through the State Khadi and Village
Industries Boards. There is however an urgent need for establishing more village flaying
centres for skilled flaying offallen animals. Demonstration-cum-training centres should be
established in important places for imparting training in curing, tanning and rational utilisation
of hides. Facilities need to be suitably strengthened to carrytout grading of hides and skins
according to Agmark standards. Cold storage facilities for preserving raw hides and skins also
need to be provided, wherever possible. Before export, a system of compulsory pre-shipment
inspection should be introduced. This measure is of vital importance in securing quality.
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