Sheep - AgRIS

(USA). The Rambouillet as purebreds and in crosses with Indian breeds have generally
performed better than soviet Merinos.
iii) Polworth
The Polworth breed originated at Tarndwarncoort in Victoria. It was evolved by mating
first cross Lincoln Merino ewe with Merino rams. The backcross progeny of the mating was
interbred and eventually the Polworth breed was established. The sheep resembles a plain
bodied extra long stapled wool Merino. They have fairly level frame, clear eyes, soft face, pink
nose but sometimes mottled and are free from skin folds. They may be horned or polled.
Although the animals are bulky in appearance, yet they are neat and have symmetrical lines.
Their fleece is of even quality of about 55 count and average length of the staple is not less than
10 cm. The value of fleece is almost the same as that of Merino and mutton produced is of
desirable quality.
b) Indigenous
i) Chokla: (Syn. Chapper and Shekhawati).
It can be categerise as medium fine wool. It is distributed over Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar,
and the border areas of Bikaner, Jaipur and Nagaur districts of Rajasthan. Animals true to the
breed type are found in Sikar and Churu districts.
Chokla are light to medium-sized animals. Their face is generally devoid of wool and is
reddish brown or dark brown in colour which may extend up to the middle of the neck. The
skin is pink.
The ears are small to medium in length (7.77±0.09 cm) and tubular. Both the sexes are
polled. The coat is dense and relatively ine, covering the entire body including the belly and the
greater part of the legs.
ii) Hissardale
The breed was synthesized in the earlier part of the century at the Government Livestock
Farm, Hisar (Haryana) through crossing Australian Merino rams with Bikaneri (Magra) ewes
by stabilizing the exotic inheritance to about 75%. The animals are small with short legs, giving
them a low set appearance and leaf like medium sized ears. Most animals are polled. Colour is
predominantly white, although some brown or black patches can also be observed. A small
flock of Hissardale is located at the Government Livestock Farm, Hisar. The rams were earlier
distributed primarily to the hilly regions of Kulu, Kangra etc.
iii) Niligiri
Evolved during the 19th century, the breed has originated from a crossbred base and
contains an unknown level of inheritance of Coimbatore (the local hairy breed) and Tasmanian
Merino, Cheviot and South Down exotic breeds. It is localised to Nilgiri hills of Tamil Nadu.
The animals are medium sized. Their body colour is generally white with exceptionally brown
patches on face and body. Face line is convex, giving a typical Roman nose. Ears are broad, flat
and drooping. Males have horn buds and scars but the females are polled. The tail is medium
and thin. The fleece is fine and dense. According to the 1972 census the Nilgiri breed totalled
8,000 and as per 1977 census, 7,677. Well adapted to the conditions of the Nilgiri hills, the
breed produces fine fleece but there is little organized shearing and marketing of wool. The
breed is moslty maintained for manure by tea planters and other flock owners.
iv) Tibetan
This breed is distributed in Northern Sikkim and Kameng districts of Arunachal Pradesh.
These are medium-sized animals, mostly white with black or brown face and brown and white
spots on thebody. Both sexes are horned. The nose line is convex, giving a typical Roman nose.
The ears are small, broad and drooping. The fleece is relatively fine and dense. The belly, legs
and face are devoid of wool. The total number of Tibetan sheep in the area is about 30,000.
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