Table Of ContentSHEEP
PRODUCTION
S.K. KAUSHISH
ICAR
Indian Council of Agricultural Research
New Delhi
S.K. Kaushish
Former Head
Division of Animal Sciences and Forage Production,
Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur
ICAR
Directorate of Knowledge Management in Agriculture
Indian Council of Agricultural Research
Krishi Anusandhan Bhavan, New Delhi 110 012
Printed : September 2012
Project Director Dr Rameshwar Singh
Incharge, English Editorial Unit Dr R P Sharma
Editing Madhu Aggarwal
Chief Production Officer Dr V K Bharti
Technical Officer Kul Bhushan Gupta
All rights reserved
© 2012, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi
ISBN : 978-81-7164-112-3
Price : Rs 500
Published by Dr Rameshwar Singh, Project Director (DKMA), Indian Council of
Agricultural Research, New Delhi 110 012, lasertypeset at M/s Print-O-World,
2579, Mandir Lane, Shadipur, New Delhi 110 008, and printed at M/s Chandu
Press, 225, DSIDC Complex, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase I, New Delhi 110 020
Preface
The current population of sheep in India is about 61.8 million,
whereas developed countries of the world have about 45% of sheep and
the developing countries on the other hand have about 55% of sheep
population. Presently, the sheep in India are providing 230 million kg
mutton, 53.7 m kg wool and 52.4 m kg skins annually. Sheep plays a
vital role in the livelihood security of over 9m population of small and
marginal farmers and landless labourers. Since sheep are reared under
ecologically poor zone, they are blamed for causing vegetative
destruction, soil erosion and desertification.
The gravity of situation can be gauged from the fact that India with
only 2.30% of the land area of the world is maintaining nearly 16.65%
of the world human population and about 20.01% of the livestock
population. Studies conducted have revealed that a marked improvement
can be achieved in the overall productivity through food and fodder
resource development and their effective utilization.
The targeted growth rate of 8% of Indian economy during eleventh
five-year plan is possible only if we achieve growth rate of 4% in
agriculture. The growth rate of 4% in agriculture is possible only if a
growth rate of at least 7.5% is achieved in livestock sector.
The subject of sheep production and management has been
introduced in many agricultural universities at graduate and
postgraduate levels. Many books have been written by foreign authors
and we have been following them. As the climate of this region is
different from that of those countries, these publications are far away
from realties under our conditions.
The aim of this book is to present consolidated latest information
on different aspects of sheep production accrued through research and
development programmes undertaken during the last five decades. The
information has been compiled/collected from the reports/published
works of various authors.
Very few books have been written on sheep management under our
conditions. As these are not according to the syllabi being followed in
agricultural universities. The present work is not the sole effort of the
author but is a compilation of research findings of a large number of
academicians, research workers including rural people. The author has
brought out the present book keeping in view the requirements of
Sheep Production
IV
undergraduate and postgraduate students of sheep production, the
teachers, scientists, farm managers and planning officers, development
agencies and administrators. The aim has been to present a
comprehensive volume of information.
I am indebted to many of my colleagues, who have made the writing
of this book possible in particular to Dr VK. Taneja, the then DDG
(Animal Sciences), Dr S.A. Karim, presently working as Director of
CSWRI, Avikanagar. I am also thankful to Director CSWRI,
Avikanagar, for allowing me to use some of the photographs. I am
equally indebted to all the faculty members of the Division of Animal
Science and Forage Production. I am highly thankful to Shri Suresh
Chander Roj, Shri Om Prakash Jayal and Shri Kailash Chohan who have
shared the burden of some of the development work reported.
In the end, I would like to express my feelings of gratefulness to
my wife, my son and his wife and my daughter and her husband for
their continuous moral support.
S.K. Kaushish
D-327, Saraswati Nagar
New Pali Road
Jodhpur 342 005
Contents
Preface Hi
1. General View 1
2. Breeds of Sheep 25
3. Housing 41
4. Establishment and Culling 51
5. Migration 58
6. Sheep and Lamb Management 67
7. Reproduction 82
8. Embryo Technology 132
9. Biotechnology for Small Ruminants Production 140
10. Wool 145
11. Pelt Production 198
12. Mutton Production 210
13. Milk 232
14. Health Management 242
15. Nutrition 269
16. Pastures and Forages 297
17. Economics 334
18. Farm Records 341
Appendix-I Glossary of technical terms 351
Appendix-II Body weights of lambs of different
breeds at different ages 373
Appendix-Ill Live weight gain in different breeds 378
Appendix-IV Botanical and common names of
some fodder trees 380
References 394
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2018
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1
.
General View
S
heep were domesticated long before the dawn of recorded history.
Wool fibers have been found in the remains of primitive villages
in Switzerland that date back to an estimated 20,000 years. Sheep
and goat were first domesticated by man between 7500 and 6500 bc
for meat and milk (Harlan, 1976). Mention is made in the Bible of
sheep flocks and lambs.
At that time humans would follow feral flocks of sheep from their
winter valley pastures as they migrated to the cooler, High Mountain
pastures. Early humans, in their search for food, clearly recognized a
valuable species with the capability of providing both meat and skins
(Zeumer, 1963).
The Soay, a primitive type of sheep still found in Britain, may be
typical of the original domesticated types, with a hairy outer coat and a
dense undercoat of short fine wool.
Very little information is available about the original selection and
domestication of sheep; they are thought to have descended from wild
type like the Moufflon sheep. Selection practices not only removed most
of the wild instincts, leaving the species completely dependent on man
for management and protection, but the tail also lengthened. As
weaning began to develop as an important advancement, more definite
type and breeds of sheep began to emerge. A breed was developed in
Spain for fine wool. The English also developed many breeds that would
adapt to their varying climate. Spain and England developed as two
super powers in wool production between 1000 and 1500 ad Most of
the breeds we come across in U.S. are from these two stocks.
Columbus introduced domestic sheep in West Indies during his
second voyage in 1493. With the invasion of Spain by Napoleon,
Merino spread to other parts of the world. Some along with many
English breeds found their way to the United States, where their
number increased.
Now a days, the sheep is remarkable in the diversity of its varieties,
breeds and crosses. The historical development and inter-relationships
Sheep Production
2
of the significant types have been studied comprehensively by Ryder and
briefly outlined elsewhere (Cunningham and Stamp, 1987).
Sheep have become widely distributed with types adapted to a
considerable range of climatic conditions varying from semi-arid to cold,
moderate rainfall conditions (500-1500 mm annual rainfall). Sheep of
different types have adapted to a wide range of temperatures, from sub¬
zero in winter in several countries to 25°C or so on the fringes of
continental deserts.
The global distribution of sheep has developed not only because of
their physiological capacity to adapt, but also as a consequence of
historical and socio-economic factors. A range of types has been bred
to meet specific commercial purposes. The four main products - meat,
wool, manure and milk - vary in importance, from the use of multi¬
purpose types encompassing all products to those providing a single
product, the former being more important in peasant economies.
Wool as a primary product is associated with systems in the semi-
arid areas of the world, notably in the Southern hemisphere, where
Australia, South Africa and South America produce Merino-type wool.
In areas with a temperate climate, meat production predominates
with New Zealand, Great Britain, Ireland and Australia being important
producers.
Milk, which is converted mainly into cheese or to yogurt, is
important in many parts of the world, but is specially so in the
Mediterranean area, parts of Asia and Africa. Roquefort cheese is
manufactured mainly from ewe’s milk in the South of France and has
a worldwide market. In recent times, specialist dairy flocks have
sprung up throughout the UK, producing cheeses, which meet a ready
market.
Classification
All the sheep have several characteristics in common. As a member
of animal kingdom, they belong to the Phylum Chordata (back bone),
class Mammalia (suckle their young ones), order Artiodactyla (hooved,
even footed), family Bauidae (ruminants), genus Ovis (domesticated and
wild sheep) and species Ovis avies (Within this species many different
breeds exist). All the pure breeds and crossbreds have their place.
Classification of different species is given in Table 1.1 (Kaushish 2009).
Sheep are important in the utilization of vast areas of grazing land,
be it mountainous, hill or range, much of which is unsuitable for other
agricultural purposes, but sheep are also integrated into systems in the
more productive cropping areas to utilize crop residues, maintain soil
fertility and to integrate grassland into crop rotations.
