The following points highlight the twelve important programmes undertaken for sheep development in India. Some of the programmes are: 1. Establishment of Different Centres 2. Sheep Development Programmes 3. Breeding Strategies 4. Health Coverage of Sheep 5. Establishment of Sheep and Wool Producers Co-Operative Societies 6. Mechanical Wool Shearing Programme and Others.
Programme # 1. Establishment of Different Centres:
The central government established CSWRI (Central Sheep and Wool Research Institue) at Avikanagar, Rajasthan and its regional stations, under UNDP/GOI project, to undertake fundamental and applied research in sheep production and wool utilisation. During the fourth plan, a large sheep-breeding farm was established in collaboration with the Australian Government, at Hissar, for pure-breeding Corriedale sheep.
Seven more such farms have been established in Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, to produce exotic pure-bred or cross-bred rams. During the fifth plan, a large number of breeding farms were established in the central and state sectors to produce genetically superior breeding stocks.
It was also planned to reorganise and strengthen the existing sheep-breeding farms in the states as well as to expand and reorganise sheep and wool extension centres.
Programme # 2. Sheep Development Programmes:
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The National Commission on Agriculture (NCA) reviewed the previous sheep and goat development activities and made recommendations on the approach as well as on organisation with a view to implementation of various development programmes.
A number of sheep development programmes were undertaken under specialised programmes, such as DPAP, small-farmer (SF), marginal-farmer (MF) and agricultural labourer schemes.
Programme # 3. Breeding Strategies:
Different breeding strategies are followed for improvement of sheep products in different regions of the country. In the north temperate and northwestern regions, it involves breeding for apparel wool sheep through crossbreeding of indigenous breeds with exotic fine-wool breeds.
For the northwestern and central peninsular regions and Bihar, selection among better carpet- wool breeds and crossing of extremely coarse and hairy indigenous breeds with exotic fine-wool and dual-purpose breeds to improve carpet-wool production and quality, and mutton production has been recommended.
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For improving mutton production in the southern peninsular region, the strategy contemplates selection within better indigenous breeds such as Nellore and Mandya, and upgrading of inferior breeds with these two breeds.
Programme # 4. Health Coverage of Sheep:
Sheep are frequently exposed to internal parasitic infestations since they graze closer to the ground. It causes economic losses to sheep farmers due to increase mortality in sheep. In view of this, different sheep development corporations are supplying antihelminthics free of cost to the farmers through the veterinary institutions of Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services.
Programme # 5. Establishment of Sheep and Wool Producers Co-operative Societies:
Karnataka sheep and wool development corporation is engaged in organising sheep farmers on the other lines of co-operative principles and is encouraging establishment of sheep and wool producers co-operative societies. It is providing share capital to each of the sheep producers co-operative society, organising scientific sheep husbandry training camps, providing mechanical wool shearing facilities, etc.
The societies shall refund the share capital provided by the corporation after a period of five years in 5 equal instalments.
Programme # 6. Mechanical Wool Shearing Programme:
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Mechanical wool shearing not only increases the staple length of the wool but also fetches better rate for the wool produced. So Wool Development Corporation is providing mechanical wool shearing services to sheep farmers at a very low cost.
Programme # 7. Training Programmes:
Sheep husbandry has been a traditional occupation in the country and sheep farmers are highly superstitious regarding their own Sheep management systems. This has been the root cause for the reduced return among the sheep farmers. Hence, free training camps in scientific sheep husbandry and fodder production are carried out in different parts of the country.
Programme # 8. Subsidy Schemes for Sheep Farming:
Karnataka sheep and wool development corporation is providing subsidy to women self-help groups of scheduled caste and scheduled caste women/men members of the sheep and wool producers co-operative societies for sheep farming.
Programme # 9. Conservation Programme:
Indiscriminate cross-breeding during the last few years has significantly reduced the number of few important indigenous breeds, particularly those from Jammu & Kashmir, where almost all the native breeds of sheep have been involved in large-scale cross-breeding with exotic fine-wool breeds.
Other such breeds are the Magra, Pugal and Chokla breeds of Rajasthan. All these breeds were declared as endangered and their population is trying to be increased and maintained.
Programme # 10. Development of Three-Breed-Cross:
A three-breed-cross is developed from Malpura, Garole and Patanwadi. This breed is capable of achieving higher market weight, better milk production ability and giving multiple births leading to enhanced economic return.
Programme # 11. Implementation of Advanced Reproductive Technology:
Advanced reproductive technologies like estrous synchronisation, artificial insemination, embryo transfer techniques, in vitro fertilisation, cryopreservation of gametes, etc. are now being implemented in commercial sheep farms from research laboratories.
Programme # 12. Genetic Improvement:
An integrated approach of selection and breeding based on molecular and phenotypic information of the traits are thought to be used for desired and rapid genetic gain in meat and carpet wool production. This will be achieved through: Identification of major/candidate genes and SNPs (Singe Nucleotide Polymorphisms) followed by validation of their association with mutton/wool production traits in sheep.
Substantial genetic variation exists between and within breeds as regard to resistance to diseases of parasitic and microbial origins which will be exploited to develop disease resistant sheep. Molecular mechanism of resistance/susceptibility and delineation of markers to identify them through the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) will be incorporated in the Selection programme.