Sheep - AgRIS
Sheep - AgRIS Sheep - AgRIS
3. Ecology, Habitat and Distribution 3.1 Geographical Distribution India can be divided, on the basis of the agroclimatic conditions and the type of sheep into 4 regions, viz. (i) the north-western, central and semi-arid regions, (ii) the southern region, (iii) the eastern region, and (iv) the northern temperate region. 3.1.1 Northern Temperate region The Northern region comprises Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and hilly regions of Uttar Pradesh. About 7.68 million hectares and land available for natural grazing. Andropogon, Apluda, Aristida and Setaria species among annual and Dichanthium, Eragrostis, Heteropogon and Themeda species among perennial are the main grasses found in the region except in the Alpine pastures where temperate grasses and legumes, viz. Red and White clover and rye grass are found. The important fodder trees and shrubs are Acacia, Bauhinia, Morus, Terminalia and Zizyphus species. This region has 4.34 million sheep and accounts for 8.82 per cent of the total population (1992 estimates). It produces about 5.69 million kg wool (13.8 per cent). Of this about 1.2 million kg is of 36 S to 48 S quality and 4.3 million kg of 48 S and above quality. The largest population of crossbred sheep primarily developed for apparel wool is in this region. In Jammu and Kashmir the crossbred sheep, moslty Merino crosses with variable level of Merino inheritance known as Kashmir Merino, constitute almost 70 per cent of the population. 3.1.2 North-Western, Central Arid and Semi-Arid Region This region comprises the states of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, plains of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. About 45.63 million hectares of land is under natural vegetation and is available for animal grazing. The major annual grasses of the region are Andropogon and Aristida species. The important perennial grasses are Cenchrus, Lasiurus, Panicum, Sehima, Andropogon andHeteropogon species. The major shrubs and trees are Acacia, Albizia, Dicrostachys, Prosopis and Hardwickia species. This region has the second largest sheep population (18.42 million; 37.44 per cent of the total population; 1992 estimates). The annual wool production is 24.7 million kg (about 59.14 per cent of the total wool produced in the country). This region is most important for carpet wool prodcution. Chokla and Pattanwadi produce good apparral quality carpet/medium apparral quality apparel wool. Malpura and Sonadi have extremely coarse and hairy fleeces and are to some extent used for milk. The other breeds produce medium to good quality carpet wool. 3.1.3 Southern Region This region is semi-arid in the central peninsular area and hot and humid along the coast. It comprises the states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. About 34.90 million hectare area is available for natural grazing. The major annual grasses of the area are Aristida species and the perennial grasses are Andropogon, Cenchrus, Chrysopogon, Dicanthium, Heteropogon, Sehima and Themeda species. Important fodder trees and shrubs are Acacia, Hardwicikia and Bauginia species. This region has the largest sheep population (21.48 million; 43.66 per cent of total population). Almost 50 per cent of the sheep in the region do not produce any wool. The rest produce extremely coarse, hairy and coloured fleece. Most of the sheep in the region are primarily maintained for meat and manure except Nilgiris. Nilgiris produce fleece of good quality. Their number is extremely small and is restricted to Nilgiri hills. Their rearing poses problems as shearing facilities are not available and disposal of wool is also a limiting factor. Nearly 9.3 million kg wool, about 22.51 per cent of the total wool in the country, is produced in this region. The wool is of below 36 S quality, excepting for a small quantity produced by Nilgiri sheep which is above 48 S . The wool is thus suitable for extremely coarse carpets, burrack blankets and handspun woven kumblies. the Nellore is the tallest breed and Mandya, also known as Bandur or Bannur, is theshortest and among the Indian breeds has the best meaty conformation. The majority of breeds in Tamil 339
Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, except Bellary or Deccani, fall within the range of height and colour of Nellore and Mandya. 3.1.4 Eastern Region This region comprises the states of Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa, Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura, Nagaland and Sikkim. It is mostly hot and humid, except for some parts of eastern states which are subtemperate and humid. About 30.48 million hectares of land with natural vegetation is available for grazing. The predominant annual grasses are Andropogon, Apluda and Aristida species. The major perennial grasses are Dichanthium, Heteropogon, Sehima and Themeda species. The important trees and shrubs are Acacia, Albizia, Bauhinia and Terminalia species. This region has about 4.96 million sheep representing 10.08 per cent of the total population. They produce about 1.87 million kg of wool, i.e. about 4.55 per cent of India‘stotal wool production. Most of the wool is of below 36 S quality except in the Tibetan sheep found in Arunachal Pradesh which produces good carpet quality wool. The majority of the wool produced in the region is suitable only for extremely coarse carpets, blankets and kumblies. The breeds of these regions are presented in Table 3.1 Table 3.1 Breeds of sheep in different agro-ecological regions in India Northern North-west Southern Eastern temperate Arid and semi-arid Gaddi Chokla Deccani Chottanagpuri Rampur Bushair Nali Nellore Balangir Bhakarwal Marwari Bellary Ganjam Poonchi Magra Hassan Tibetan sheep Karnah Jaisalmeri Mandya Bonpala Gurez Pugal Mecheri Garole Kashmir merino Malpura Kilakarsal Shahbadi Changthangi Sonadi Vembur Pattanwadi Coimbatore Muzaffarnagri Nilgiri Jalanuni Ramnad white Hissardale Madras Red Munjal Tiruchy Black Avivastra Kenguri Bharat Merino The country has more recently been divided into 15 agroclimatic regions from the point of crop production. The area in each region covers and predominant breeds of the region have been presented in Table 3.2. There are 40 descript breeds of sheep and others are being identified. However, the majority (about 75%) of the animals are non-descript. There is a large inter-mixture amongst the breeds in regions where 2 or more breeds exist. There are no breed societies or agencies to register the animals of a particular breed, maintain flock book and ensure the preservation of the purity of a breed or type. Little systematic effort has been made to describe, evaluate and manage (conserve and improve) these breeds. There do exist some Central and State Government breeding farms which maintain flocks of indigenous breeds, mostly of sheep breeds for production of studs for distribution of the farmers. Most of the breeds of sheep in India have evolved through natural selection for adaptation to specific agro-ecological conditions. Very little concerted effort for developing these breeds through artificial selection has been made. Most of the breeds are very well adapted to harsh climate, long migration, tropical diseases, poor nutrition, and shortages of drinking water and poor water quality. 340
- Page 1 and 2: 1. Introduction ANNEXURE - IX-C SHE
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Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, except Bellary or Deccani, fall within the range of<br />
height and colour of Nellore and Mandya.<br />
3.1.4 Eastern Region<br />
This region comprises the states of Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa, Assam, Meghalaya,<br />
Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura, Nagaland and Sikkim. It is mostly hot<br />
and humid, except for some parts of eastern states which are subtemperate and humid.<br />
About 30.48 million hectares of land with natural vegetation is available for grazing.<br />
The predominant annual grasses are Andropogon, Apluda and Aristida species. The<br />
major perennial grasses are Dichanthium, Heteropogon, Sehima and Themeda species.<br />
The important trees and shrubs are Acacia, Albizia, Bauhinia and Terminalia species.<br />
This region has about 4.96 million sheep representing 10.08 per cent of the total<br />
population. They produce about 1.87 million kg of wool, i.e. about 4.55 per cent of<br />
India‘stotal wool production. Most of the wool is of below 36 S quality except in the<br />
Tibetan sheep found in Arunachal Pradesh which produces good carpet quality wool.<br />
The majority of the wool produced in the region is suitable only for extremely coarse<br />
carpets, blankets and kumblies. The breeds of these regions are presented in Table 3.1<br />
Table 3.1 Breeds of sheep in different agro-ecological regions in India<br />
Northern North-west Southern Eastern temperate Arid and semi-arid<br />
Gaddi Chokla Deccani Chottanagpuri<br />
Rampur Bushair Nali Nellore Balangir<br />
Bhakarwal Marwari Bellary Ganjam<br />
Poonchi Magra Hassan Tibetan sheep<br />
Karnah Jaisalmeri Mandya Bonpala<br />
Gurez Pugal Mecheri Garole<br />
Kashmir merino Malpura Kilakarsal Shahbadi<br />
Changthangi Sonadi Vembur<br />
Pattanwadi Coimbatore<br />
Muzaffarnagri Nilgiri<br />
Jalanuni Ramnad white<br />
Hissardale Madras Red<br />
Munjal Tiruchy Black<br />
Avivastra Kenguri<br />
Bharat Merino<br />
The country has more recently been divided into 15 agroclimatic regions from the point of<br />
crop production. The area in each region covers and predominant breeds of the region have<br />
been presented in Table 3.2.<br />
There are 40 descript breeds of sheep and others are being identified. However, the majority<br />
(about 75%) of the animals are non-descript. There is a large inter-mixture amongst the breeds<br />
in regions where 2 or more breeds exist. There are no breed societies or agencies to register the<br />
animals of a particular breed, maintain flock book and ensure the preservation of the purity of a<br />
breed or type. Little systematic effort has been made to describe, evaluate and manage<br />
(conserve and improve) these breeds. There do exist some Central and State Government<br />
breeding farms which maintain flocks of indigenous breeds, mostly of sheep breeds for<br />
production of studs for distribution of the farmers.<br />
Most of the breeds of sheep in India have evolved through natural selection for adaptation<br />
to specific agro-ecological conditions. Very little concerted effort for developing these breeds<br />
through artificial selection has been made. Most of the breeds are very well adapted to harsh<br />
climate, long migration, tropical diseases, poor nutrition, and shortages of drinking water and<br />
poor water quality.<br />
340
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