List of thirty-five popular Indian breeds of sheep:- 1. Nali Sheep 2. Chokla Sheep 3. Marwari Sheep 4. Magra Sheep 5. Jaisalmeri Sheep 6. Malpura Sheep 7. Sonadi Sheep 8. Patanwadi Sheep 9. Muzaffarnagari Sheep 10. Jalauni Sheep 11. Hissardale Sheep 12. Deccani Sheep 13. Bellary Sheep 14. Nellore Sheep 15. Mandya Sheep 16. Hassan Sheep 17. Mecheri Sheep 18. Vembur Sheep and Others.
Indian Breed # 1. Nali Sheep:
Medium-sized sheep; face is light brown in colour; skin is pink; ears are large and leafy; both sexes are polled; tail is short to medium in length and thin; fleece is white with brownish tinge, coarse, dense and long-stapled; forehead, legs and belly are covered with wool.
Uses:
This sheep are mainly reared for wool and clipped twice a year. Average cut varies between 2.5-3.5 kg per year. March clip is yellow and September clip is golden brown in colour.
Indian Breed # 2. Chokla Sheep:
Light to medium sized; face is generally devoid of wool and is reddish-brown/dark brown in colour; skin is pink; ears are small to medium in length and tubular; coat is dense; both sexes are polled.
Uses:
Although Chokla is perhaps the finest carpet-wool breed, its wool is being diverted to the worsted* sector due to scarcity in fine apparel wool in the country. The average yield is between 1.5-2.5 kg per year.
Indian Breed # 3. Marwari Sheep:
Medium-sized; black face with colour extending up-to the lower part of the neck; ears are extremely small and tubular; both sexes are polled; tail is short, medium and thin.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
Uses:
This breed is clipped twice a year, yield varies from 1.5 – 2.5 kg per annum. Fleece is white and not very dense and suitable for carpet making. It is also used for meat purpose.
Indian Breed # 4. Magra Sheep:
Medium to large in size; white face with brown patches around the eyes are characteristic; skin colour is pink; ears are small to medium and tubular; both sexes are polled; tail is medium in length and thin.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
Uses:
Fleece is of medium carpet quality, extremely white and lustrous and not very dense. Bikaneri magra strains have extremely white and lustrous fleeces and are suitable for good quality carpets.
Indian Breed # 5. Jaisalmeri Sheep:
Tall, well-built, largest breed in Rajasthan; black or dark brown face with the colour extending upon the neck; typical roman nose, long drooping ears generally with a cartilaginous appendage; both sexes are polled; tail is medium to long.
Uses:
Fleece colour is white, of medium carpet quality and not very dense. Annual fleece weighs about 750 gm with staple length of 6.5 cm. It is also known as a meat breed.
Indian Breed # 6. Malpura Sheep:
Fairly well-built with long legs; light brown face; belly and legs are devoid of wool. Ears are short and tubular, with a small cartilaginous appendage on the upper side; both sexes are polled; tail is medium to long and thin.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
Uses:
Fleece is white, extremely coarse and hairy. Annual fleece yield is about 1 kg which is used by carpet industry. Malpura meat is also acceptable.
Indian Breed # 7. Sonadi Sheep:
Fairly well-built but somewhat smaller to Malpura; long legs; light brown face with colour extending to the middle of the neck; ears are large, Hat and drooping and generally have a cartilaginous appendage; tail is long and thin; both sexes are polled; udder is fairly well developed.
Uses:
Fleece is white, extremely coarse and hairy and yield varies from 0.6 – 1.2 kg annually. This breed also gives milk 1-1.5 kg per day.
Indian Breed # 8. Patanwadi Sheep:
The breed includes three distinct strains:
(1) Non-migratory, red-faced animals with small bodies-, these are typical Patanwadis and are located in north-eastern Saurashtra.
(2) Migratory type with larger body and long legs, typical Roman nose and long tubular ears.
(3) Meat type, with big body and low stature.
Uses:
(1) Yielding relatively finer fleeces
(2) Produces coarser fleece
(3) Used as a source of meat, also produces coarser fleeces.
Indian Breed # 9. Muzaffarnagari Sheep:
Medium to large in size; it is one of the largest breed and very well adapted to irrigated areas. Face lines are slightly convex; face and body are white with occasional patches of brown or black; both sexes are polled; males sometimes contain rudimentary horns; ears are long and drooping; tail is extremely long and reaches fetlock. Belly and legs are devoid of wool.
Uses:
Fleece is white, coarse and open from which carpets are manufactured. People also take its meat.
Indian Breed # 10. Jalauni Sheep:
Medium-sized; straight nose line; both sexes are polled; ears are large, flat and drooping; tail is thin and medium in length; belly and legs are devoid of wool.
Uses:
Fleece is coarse, short-stapled, and open and generally white which can be used for carpet industry. Jaalauni is also taken for meat purpose.
Indian Breed # 11. Hissardale Sheep:
Small low-set appearance with short legs; leaf-like medium-sized ears. Most animals are polled; colour is predominantly white, although some brown or black patches can also be observed.
Uses:
Its wool is fine and suitable for garments. Annual fleece yield is about 2 kg.
Indian Breed # 12. Deccani Sheep:
Medium-sized; predominantly black with white markings; white and brown/fawn animals are also seen. Rams are horned but ewes are polled: ears are medium, long, flat and drooping; tail is short and thin. Belly and legs are devoid of wool.
Uses:
Fleece is extremely coarse, hairy and open and used for rough blankets. Annual yield is about 700 gm.
Indian Breed # 13. Bellary Sheep:
Medium-sized; body colour ranging from white to black with various combinations; one-third of the males are horned, females are generally polled; ears are medium, long, flat and drooping. Belly and legs are devoid of wool.
Fleece is extremely coarse, hairy and open. Annual yield varies from less than 500 gm.
Indian Breed # 14. Nellore Sheep:
Based on the coat colour, three varieties of the breed are: “Palla” – completely white or white with light brown spots on head, neck, back and legs; “Jodipi/ Jodimpu” – white with black spots, particularly around the lips, eyes and lower jaw, but also on belly and legs; and “Dora” – completely brown.
Animals are relatively tall with little hair except at brisket, withers and breech: Rams are horned but ewes are almost always polled; ears are long and drooping; tail is short and thin; 86% of the animals carry wattles.
Uses:
Fleece is extremely coarse, hairy and open.
This breed is famous for mutton. Ewes are not prolific and late maturing.
Indian Breed # 15. Mandya Sheep:
Relatively small in size; white in colour, but in some cases, the face is light brown, which may extend up to the neck; possess a compact body with a typical reversed, U-shaped wedge from the rear.
Ears are long, leaf-like and drooping, tail is short and thin; a large percentage of the animals carry wattles; slightly Roman nose; both sexes are polled; coat is extremely coarse and hairy. There is a high incidence of cryptorchidism in the male.
Uses:
It is the best meat breed of the country.
Indian Breed # 16. Hassan Sheep:
Small-sized; white body with light brown or black spots; ears are medium long and drooping; 39% of males are horned; females are usually polled. Belly and legs are generally devoid of wool.
Uses:
Fleece is white, extremely coarse and open. Mostly used for meat.
Indian Breed # 17. Mecheri Sheep:
Medium-sized; light brown in colour; ears are medium sized; both sexes are polled; tail is short and thin. Body is covered with very short hair which is not shorn.
Uses:
Its skin is of very high quality. This breed also has good dressing percentage (55%).
Indian Breed # 18. Vembur Sheep:
Tall; colour is white with irregular fawn patches all over the body; ears are medium-sized and drooping; tail is short and thin; males are horned but ewes are polled; body is covered with very short hair which is not shorn.
Uses:
Used mainly for meat purpose.
Indian Breed # 19. Coimbatore Sheep:
Medium-sized; white colour with black or brown spots; ears are medium in size and directed outward and backward; tail is short and thin; 38% males are horned but females are polled.
Uses:
Fleece is white, coarse, hairy and open. Used for meat purpose.
Indian Breed # 20. Nilgiri Sheep:
Medium-sized; body colour is generally white with exceptions having brown patches on face and body; face line is convex, giving a typical Roman nose. Ears are broad, flat and drooping; males have horn buds and scurs but the females are polled. Tail is medium and thin.
Uses:
Fleece is fine and dense. The breed produces fine fleece but there is little organised shearing and marketing of its wool. The breed is mostly maintained for manure by tea planters and other flock owners.
Indian Breed # 21. Ramand White Sheep:
Medium-sized; predominantly white, though some animals have fawn or black markings over the body. Ears ire medium-sized and directed outward and downward. Males have twisted horns but females are polled. Tail is short and thin.
Uses:
Mainly used for meat.
Indian Breed # 22. Madras Red Sheep:
Medium-sized; body colour is predominantly brown and its intensity varies from light tan to dark brown. Some animals have white markings on the forehead, inside the thighs and on the lower abdomen. Ears are medium-long. Males have twisted horns but females are polled. Body is covered with very short hair which is not shorn.
Uses:
This breed is used for meat purpose. Dressing percentage is about 40%.
Indian Breed # 23. Tiruchi Black Sheep:
Small-sized. Completely black body. Males are horned but ewes are polled. Ears are short and directed downward and forward. Tail is short and thin.
Uses:
Fleece is extremely coarse, hairy and open. Good for meat purpose also.
Indian Breed # 24. Kenguri (Tenguri) Sheep:
Medium-sized. Body colour is mostly dark brown, but colours ranging from white to black with spots of different shades are also not uncommon. Males are horned but the females are generally polled.
Uses:
It is a meat breed.
Indian Breed # 25. Chottanagpuri Sheep:
Small, light-weight animals. Light grey and brown in colour. Ears are small and parallel to the head. Tail is short and thin. Both sexes are polled.
Uses:
Fleece is coarse, hairy and open and is generally shorn thrice in a year.
Indian Breed # 26. Shahabadi Sheep:
Medium-sized, leggy animals. Fleece colour is mostly grey, sometimes with black spots. Ears are medium sized and drooping. Tail is extremely long and thin. Both sexes are polled. Belly and legs are devoid of wool.
Uses:
Fleece is extremely coarse, hairy and open. Annual yield varies between 500 gm to 1 kg.
Indian Breed # 27. Balangir Sheep:
Medium-sized. White or light brown or of mixed colours; few animals are black. Ears are small and stumpy. Males are horned and females are polled. Tail is medium long and thin. Belly and legs are devoid of wool.
Uses:
Fleece is extremely coarse, hairy and open and used for carpet industry. The breed is used for meat also.
Indian Breed # 28. Ganjam Sheep:
Medium-sized. Coat-colour ranging from brown to dark tan; some have white spots on the face and body. Ears are medium-sized and drooping. Nose line is slightly convex. Tail is medium long and thin. Males are horned but females are polled.
Uses:
Fleece is short and hairy and is not shorn. Used for meat purpose also.
Indian Breed # 29. Bonpala Sheep:
Tall, leggy and well-built. Fleece colour ranges from complete white to complete black with a number of intermediary tones. Ears are small and tubular. Both sexes are horned. Tail is short and thin. Belly and legs are devoid of wool.
Uses:
Fleece is coarse, hairy and open. This breed is used for meat and carpet wool.
Indian Breed # 30. Gaddi (Bhadarwah) Sheep:
Medium-sized. Usually white, although tan, brown and black and mixtures of these are also seen. All males and 10-15% females are horned. Tail is short and thin.
Uses:
Fleece is relatively fine, lustrous and dense. It is clipped thrice in a year. The undercoat is used for manufacturing Kulu Shawls and blankets.
Indian Breed # 31. Rampur Bushair Sheep:
Medium-sized. Fleece colour is predominantly white, but brown, black and tan colour are also seen in varying proportions. Ears are long and drooping. Roman nose. Males are horned but most of the females are polled. Legs, belly and face are devoid of wool.
Uses:
Fleece is of medium quality and dense. This breed is also good for meat.
Indian Breed # 32. Bhakarwal Sheep:
Medium-sized. Roman nose. Generally white, although coloured fleeces are occasionally observed; all animals are spotted, fawn or grey. Rams are horned and ewes polled. Ears are long and drooping. Tail is short and thin.
Uses:
Fleece is coarse and open, used for blanket and carpet industries.
Indian Breed # 33. Poonchi Sheep:
Animals are similar in appearance to Gaddi except being lighter in weight. Predominantly white in colour but spotted sheep varying from brown to light black are also seen. Ears are medium long. Tail is short and thin. Legs are short giving a low-set conformation.
Uses:
Wool is of medium to fine quality, mostly white in colour. It is clipped twice or thrice in a year with annual yield of 1.6 kg/sheep.
Indian Breed # 34. Gurez Sheep:
Largest sheep breed of J & K. Generally white in colour, although some animals are brown or black or have brown or black spots. A small proportion of animals have small, pointed horns. Tail is short and thin. Ears are long, thin and pointed.
Uses:
Fleece is generally coarse and hairy and suitable for carpet making.
Indian Breed # 35. Changthangi Sheep:
Strongly built, large framed.
Good fleece cover of an extraordinarily long staple.
Uses:
Wool is of a good carpet/medium apparel quality. Animals are usually shorn twice a year, generally in May/June and September/October.
