AGB 211: Livestock and Poultry Breeding (2+1)

NORTHERN TEMPERATE REGION

This region comprises of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and hilly parts of Uttar Pradesh and has approximately 3.69 million (9.04% of the country’s sheep population) sheep. They produce about 3.08 million kg wool (8.27% of the country's wool production) of which 0.77 million kg is of 36 to 46 quality, suitable for carpets. The rest 2.32 million kg is of 48 and above standard and is suitable for apparel and superior quality carpets. The important breeds of this region are Rampur Bushair, Kashmir Vally, Gurez, Karnah and Gaddi. Around 1/3rd of sheep in Jammu and Kashmir and about 15-20% in other parts of this region are expected to be the crosses of native breeds with exotic fine wool breeds. They have been named as Kashmir Merino in Jammu and Kashmir. The description of various breeds of this region is as under:

Gaddi

Also known as Bhadarwah, the breed is distributed in Kishtwar and Bhadarwah tehsils in Jammu provinces of Jammu and Kashmir state, Hamirpur, Ramnagar, Udhampur and Kulu and Kangra valleys of Himachal Pradesh and Dehradun, Nainital, Tehri Garhwal and Chamoli districts of Uttar Pradesh. These are medium sized animals, usually white, although tan, brown and black and mixture of these are also seen. Males are entirely horned but females to the extent 10 to 15 % are horned. Tail is small and thin. The fleece is relatively fine and dense. Total sheep population in the Gaddi distribution area was 0.686 million as per the 1972 census and according to the 1977 census, 0.804 million.

Rampur Bushair

This is distributed in Simla, Kinnaur, Nahan, Bilaspur, Solan, Lahul and Spiti districts of Himachal Pradesh and Dehradun, Rishikesh, Chakrota and Nainital districts of Uttar Pradesh. These are medium sized animals. The fleece colour is predominantly white, but brown, black and tan colour is also seen on the fleece in varying proportions. The ears are long and drooping. The face line is convex, giving a typical Roman nose. The males are horned but most of the females are polled. The fleece is of medium quality and dense. Legs, belly and face are devoid of wool. The total sheep population in the Rampur Bushair distribution area according to the 1972 census was 0.550 million.

Bhakarwal

The breed has derived its name from a nomadic tribe which rears these sheep. Due to its entirely migratory nature, there is no distinct home tract of this breed. These are medium sized animals, with a typical Roman nose. The animals are generally white, although coloured fleeces are also occasionally observed. All animals are spotted, fawn or grey. Rams are horned and the ewes polled. Ears are long and drooping. Tail is small and thin. Fleece is coarse and open. The adult ewes weigh between 29 and 36 kg, and rams as much as 55 kg. In adult females at withers is around 62 cm, body length 65 cm and chest girth 82 cm. The sheep are shorn thrice a year and the total annual wool produced ranges from 1.0 to 1.5 kg per animal. The wool quality is from 36 to 40 with fibre diameter varying from 6 to 38.

Poonchi

This breed is distributed in Poonch and part of Rajouri districts of Jammu provinces. The animals are similar in appearance to Gaddi except being lighter in weight. Animals are predominantly white in colour, including the face but spotted sheep varying from brown to light black are also seen. Ears are medium long. Tail is short and thin. Legs are also short, giving a low-set conformation. The weight of the adult ram ranges from 35 to 40 kg and that of a ewe from 25 to 30 kg. Wool is of medium to fine quality, mostly white in colour. Sheep are shorn three times a year which produce between 0.9 to 1.3 kg greasy wool sheep per year. Fibre length ranges between 15 to 18 cm and the fibre diameter between 22 and 30 µ.

Karnah

This is distributed in Karnah, a mountainous tehsil in North Kashmir. These are generally large animals. The rams have large curved horns and a prominent nose line. Wool is generally white in colour. The sheep are shorn twice a year, in spring and autumn which produce between 1.0 to 1.5 kg of wool per animal per year. Staple length ranges from 12 to 15 cm and the average fibre diameter between 29 and 32 µ.

Gurez

The breed is distributed in the Gurez area of Northern Kashmir. A largest of the sheep breeds of Jammu and Kashmir, generally white in colour, although some animals are brown or black or have brown or black spots. A small proportion of the animals have small, pointed horns. Tail is thin and short. Fleece is generally coarse and hairy. Ears are long, thin and pointed. The annual greasy-fleece weight ranges from 0.5 to 1.0 kg per animal.

Kashmir Merino

This breed has originated from crosses of different Merino types (at first Delaine Merinos, and subsequently Rambouillet and Soviet Merinos) with predominantly migratory native sheep breeds, viz. Gaddi, Bhakarwal and Poonchi. The level of inheritance in the crossbred animals included in Kashmir Merino predominantly varies between 50 - 75% but may vary from very low to almost 100% Merino. As the animals are highly diversified because of a number of native breeds lived, no definite description of the breed can be given. Some flocks of Kashmir Merino are maintained at the state farms.

Changthangi

This beed is distributed in the Changthang region of Ladakh. The animals are strongly built. large framed with good fleece cover of an extraordinarily long staple. Animals are usually shorn twice a year, generally in May/June and September/October but in some cases shearing is done only once a year, in July/August Greasy-wool production ranges from 1.0 to 1.5 kg per animal per year. The wool is of a good carpet / medium apparel quality.