Sheep - AgRIS

different states it is estimated that sheep population during 1992 has been about 49 S million.
The country stands sixth in sheep population in the world. These sheep produce 141 million kg
mutton, 35 S million kg of greasy wool and 39.78 million pieces of skin annually (FAO, 1993).
Of the total wool produced in the country roughtly 10.49 per cent falls in the range of above
56 S , 22.31 per cent between 44 S and 56 S 34.0 per cent between 36 S and 43 S and the rest 33.18
per cent is below 36 S in quality. The wools of 54 S and above quality are suitable for worsted
sector and hosiery, of 36 S to 53 S quality for good quality carpets and those below 36 S only for
coarse quality carpets, druggets, felts and rugs. About 14 million kg of fine wool is imported
for the worsted sector for preparing woollen cloth for suitings, hosiery and other apparel, as
only 4.0 million kg of indigenous wool is combs worthy. The country requires 15 million kg of
64 S quality wool for the manufacture of fine apparels, 10 million kg of 56 S quality for medium
quality for medium quality apparels and 20 million kg of 36 S to 48 S quality for carpet
manufacture. The availability is thus short by 15 million kg of fine wool and about 7.2 million
kg of medium quality apparel wool. The woollen industry provides employment to about 3
million people and earns more than 2,000 million of foreign exchange by way fo exports. Statewise
sheep population from 1972 to 1992 quinquinally is presented in Table 3.3. In Rajasthan,
the largest sheep rearing state, the sheep population increased by about 34.61 per cent as
against 18.00 per cent in the country during 1977-92.
There are 1086 million sheep in the world, out of which, 14 and 13 per cent are found in
Australia and USSR, respectively. Twenty six per cent sheep (268 million) of the world are
found in Asia. They are found in larger numbers in China, Turkey, India and Iran. Seventy per
cent of the total sheep population of Asia is found in these countries. Their number increased
by 13 per cent between 1955 and 1975 Table 3.3.
Sheep population increased by 3 percent in Europe during this period. Largest number of sheep
in Europe are found in Bulgaria, France, Romania and Spain.
Of the total 113 million sheep found in South America, 23 and 32 percent alone are found
in Brazil and Argentina, respectively. Their number decreased by 4 per cent. During 1955 and
1975 the sheep number decresed by 44 per cent in North and Central America whereas it
increased by 38 percent in USSR during the same period.
There were 155 million sheep in Africa according to 1975 census. The sheep population
registered an increase of 35 percent between 1955 and 1975. Fifty per cent of the total sheep
population of this continent is found in South Africa, Ethiopia, Morrocco and Sudan alone.
Australia is the biggest wool producing and exporting country of the world. About half of
the world merino wool is produced here. Australia produces about one third of the world wool
Table 3.3.
Table 3.3 Sheep population in the world
Country Numbers in ‘000 Percentage As percentage
increase or decrease of world
1979-81 1994 1979-1994 total in 1994
Africa 180465 208845 15.5 19.2
Algeria 13111 17850F 35.5 1.6
Angola 225 225F 0.0 0.02
Benin 972 940F -3.2 0.08
Botswana 147 344F 134.0 0.03
Burkina Fasco 3200 5686 77.5 0.05
Burundi 301 350F 16.2 0.03
Cameroon 2167 3770F 74.5 0.34
Cape Verde 1 7F 600.0 0.0006
Cent Afr Rep 84 152F 90.9 0.013
Chad 2620 2152 -17.9 0.198
Comoros 8 15F 87.5 0.00
Congo 69 111F 60.8 0.01
Cote Divoire 1020 1251 22.6 0.11
Djibouti 417 470F 12.7 0.04
Egypt 1791 3382 * 98.8 0.31
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