Sheep - AgRIS

weights (10 kg) should be recorded closer to 25 g and weights upto weaning (20 kg) closer to
50 g and later weights closer to l00g.
16.1. 2 Body Measurements
The body measurements, viz. heart girth, length and height at withers closer to 1 cm should
be recoreded at birth, weaning, 6,9 months and 1 year with the help of a metalic tape marked in
cm and after placing the lamb on a flat even surface with up right standing position.
16.1. 3 Fleece yield and quality
(i) Immediately after birth fleece colour and the extent of body covered with the colour
should be recorded.
(ii) The record of six monthly greasy fleece weight of all animals should be made closer to 25
g. The exact age at shearing should also be recorded.
(iii) Samples of fleece from approximate 1 "x 1 " area (in case density is not to be determined
otherwise exact area should be marked and complete sample taken) from mid-side should
be clipped with a sharp scissor as closer to the skin as possible and used for recording
clean yield percent, average staple length, average fiber diameter, medullation percentage
and density.
(iv) The itensity and extent of yellow (canary) colouration may also be recorded at the time of
shearing. The itensity may be recarded from the fleece an the Rhalllder
16.2 Culling and Disposal
(i) All lambs which are stray (of unknown parentage) highly deviating from the characters of
a genetic group, in colour and quality of wool and the lambs which are extremely poor in
growth (less than 2 standard deviation below the weaning weight) would be culled at
weaning.
(ii) All male lambs should be ranked on the basis of 6 months body weight and those below
the mean should be culled.
(iii) Out of the rest 50%, the requisite number in each genetic group should be retained on the
basis of greasy fleece weight and fleece quality (Average Fibre diameter). While retaining
efforts should be made to have largest numbers of sires represented.
(iv) All ewes not breeding/lambing in two consecutive seasons should be culled (this may not
be strictly followed in exotics if otherwise the condition of the animal is good.).
(v) All ewes beyond the age of 7 years or those that become gummers earlier should be
culled.
(vi) All rams that have been used for 2 consecutive breeding seasons and have been mated to
at least 10 ewes of each genetic group should be removed.
(vii) All ewes showing extremely poor mothering ability should be culled.
(viii) The culled/extra animals should be disposed offto the state Governments for breeding
purpose if suitable or through the conkactor on basis oftheir live weight. The information
about the extra males suitable for breeding should be circulated among all the
development agencies.
(ix) The disposal of culled animals, through the contractor should be the responsibility of
Farm Manager. He will obtain the necessary sanction for disposal and writing off of these
animals, giving age, live weight and reason for culling.
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