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Sheep - AgRIS

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more economical in terms of meat production under the conditions of intensive feeding.<br />

Keeping in view the research results so far available, it has been recommended that to augment<br />

body weight and the overall meat productivity, the native breeds with no wool or with very<br />

coarse wool may be crossed with Dorset. The exotic level of inheritance may be limited to 50<br />

per cent only.<br />

10. 4 <strong>Sheep</strong> for pelt production<br />

Breeding Karakul sheep for pelts has also given encouraging results. Performance of<br />

Karakul sheep imported from U.S.S.R. has been tested at the Division of Carpet Wool and<br />

Karakul Pelt Production at Bikaner of CSWRI which is located in the hot arid region and also<br />

at <strong>Sheep</strong> Breeding Farm, Kumbhathang, Leh (Ledakh), Jammu and Kashmir which is located in<br />

the cold arid region as purebreds and has been found to be satisfactory as reflected from the<br />

body weight, overall survival, conception rate, greasy fleece weight and quality of pelts. The<br />

results of crossbreeding Karakul with some indigenous coarse carpet wool breeds have also<br />

been encouraging. The pelts produced from halfbred involving Malpura and Sonadi-indigenous<br />

breeds of Rajasthan have shown marked improvement and are comparable to Karakul pelt<br />

types. This technology can profitably be utilised by farmers as a new dimension for increasing<br />

their family income.<br />

10.5 Studies on canary colouration<br />

Biological causes of canary colouration (a major problem in the northwestern region) have<br />

been investigated. It is observed that it is a sequel to adaptive mechanism in hot and humid<br />

climate conditions and thermo-regulatory mechanism requiring dissipation of body heat<br />

through cutaneous evaporative cooling. Alkaline suint under the conditions of high temperature<br />

and humidity reacts with wool fibre and causes the yellow colouration. For the elimination of<br />

this defect it has been recommcnded to practice a shearing regimen with an interval of four and<br />

eight months. The sheep may be shorn in June and again in September, so that, the June to<br />

September clip which is canary coloured can be curtailed to a minimum quantity.<br />

463

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