Indian Sheep Breeds Information Guide

Indian Sheep Breeds Guide:

Introduction of Indian Sheep Breeds:- Having large population and growing meat lovers provided the option to go for commercial sheep farming throughout India. There are many sheep breeds found in India depending on the geographical location. However, in this article ,let us discuss about popular sheep breeds and their features, characteristics and performance.

Indian Sheep Breeds – Deccani Sheep

• Deccani sheep breed basically is a mixture of the woolly types of Rajasthan and the hairy types of Andhra Pradesh,Telangana and Tamil Nadu states.
• These sheep are reared for both mutton and wool.
• This sheep breed is mainly found in Mumbai-Deccan region and parts of Andhra pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka.
• This sheep possesses a coloured fleece, Gray and black colours.
• The sheep breed is small in size and hardy, and it is well suited in poor pastoral conditions.
• As these sheep are good for wool production, the average annual yield of wool is about 5 kg per sheep can be expected.
• The wool of the deccani sheep is of a low grade and it is basically a mixture of hair & fibres, mostly used for the manufacturing rough blankets (Kambals).

Indian Sheep Breeds – Mandya Sheep (Also known as Bannur and Bandur):-

• Mandya sheep is mainly found in Mandya district of Karnataka.
• Mandya sheep are small animals having white colour.However, in some cases, face would be in light brown colour which may extend up to neck area.
• This breed has compact body with typical reversed “U” shaped conformation from the rear view.These sheep ears are long, leafy and drooping.
• Male and female are polled and their coats are extremely coarse and hairy.
• Generally, an adult males sheep weighs about 35 kg where as female sheep weighs about 25 kg.
• This sheep is considered as best mutton type conformation among the other Indian sheep breeds.

Indian Sheep Breeds – Nellore Sheep:-

• Nellore sheep breed is distributed mainly in Nellore, Prakasam, Ongole districts of Andhra Pradesh and some parts of Telangana as well.These can reared any part of the south India because of their good adaptability for southern climate.
• These animals are taller in size with little hair except at brisket, breech and withers. This breed is tallest among all the breeds in India and looks similar to a goat.
• Usually, male sheep (Rams) are homed and female sheep (ewes) are polled.
• This sheep breed has long and drooping ears and most of the sheep carry wattles.
• When it comes to body weight, Male sheep attains average body weight of 36 to 38 kg where as female sheep attains the weight of 28 to 30 kg with good farm management practices.
• This breed has a long face, long ears  and body is  densely covered with short hair.
• The most of the sheep appears in red colour this is the reason people call them as Nellore red.

Indian Sheep Breeds – Marwari Sheep:-

• This breed sheep is hardy and yields coarser carpet variety of white wool a mixed hairy composition.
• This sheep breed posses long legs, black face and a prominent nose.
• Fleshy appendages under throat of these breed, known as wattles, are often found.
• These sheep breed tail is in short size and pointed.
• This sheep breed is mainly distributed all over Jodhpur and parts of Jaipur districts of Rajasthan.
• These sheep breed flocks are raised in Barmer and Pali districts of Rajasthan.
• These sheep breed migrate to  places in Uttar Pradesh,  districts of Madhya Pradesh and even sometimes to the parts of Maharashtra.
• These sheep has high tolerance of diseases and worm. Due to high resistance in this breed, the survival rate is high.
• In these animals, an average yield of wool per year is about 1.0 to 1.85 kg per each sheep.

Indian Sheep Breeds – Coimbatore Sheep:-

• This sheep breed is mainly found in Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu state.
• This sheep is mainly raised for wool purpose.
• This sheep breed attains medium weight.
• These sheep found in white colours, with black or purple coloured bands, seen over the areas of head and neck.
• 30 to 35 % of adult female sheep are free of horns.
• When it comes to body weight, an adult Ram (Male sheep) weighs about 25 kg where as ewes (Female sheep) attain the average weight of 20 kg.

Indian Sheep Breeds – Tirichy Black Sheep:-  

• This breed is mainly distributed in Trichy, Dharmapuri ,Perambalur and Salem districts of Tamilnadu state.
• These sheep are small in size and especially reared for wool purpose.
• Usually these sheep are in black colour.
• This breed male sheep are found with horns and female sheep without horns.
• This breed ears are smaller in size, facing forward & downwards.
• Generally, an adult male sheep of this breed weighs on average about 26 to 28 kg where as an adult female sheep weighs about 18 to 20 kg.            

Indian Sheep Breeds – Vembur Sheep:-

• This breed is mainly found in Vembur, karandhai, melakarandhai, keezha nagalapuram areas,Virudhunagar and Tuticorin districts of Tamilnadu state.
• These animals are tall and reared for meat purpose.
• This sheep breed possess the white colour skin with red colour spots on the body.
• Usually, this breed ears are drooped and tail tender and is in smaller size.
• This breed sheep adult males are horned where as female sheep will not have any horns.
• Body weight of the adult animals depend on the farm management  However, an adult male sheep weighs on average about 35 kg to 38 kg and an adult female sheep weighs about 28 kg to 30 kg.            

Indian Sheep Breeds – Neelagiri Sheep:-

• This sheep breed is distributed in Neelagiri district of Tamilnadu state.
• These animals attain medium weight and reared for wool purpose.
• Most of the animal are in white colour.However, some sheep may have purple spots on the face and body.
• This breed ears are broad and drooped out.
• Male sheep will have horns and females are without horns.
• On an average, an adult male weighs about 30 to 32 kg where as an adult female breed weighs about 30 kg.    

Indian Sheep Breeds – Ramanadhapuram white Sheep:-

• This sheep breed is mainly found in Ramanadhapuram, Virudhunagar and Sivagangai districts of Tamilnadu state.
• This sheep breed is raised for meat purpose.
• These animals have medium sized body and most of them are found in white colour except some sheep have black coloured stripes on the body.
• Adult male sheep will have their bent horns, and female sheep will not have any horns. Their legs smaller in size and slender.
• Generally, an adult male sheep body weighs about 30 to 32 kg where as an adult female sheep body weights about 22 to 24 kg.

Indian Sheep Breeds – Chennai Red Sheep:-

• This sheep breed is mainly distributed in Chennai, Thiruvannamalai, Kancheepuram, Villupuram districts of Tamilnadu state.
• This breed is reared for meat purpose.
• Most of the Chennai red sheep are purple in colour and some will have coloured stripes on their forehead.
• Usually, an adult Ram (male) average body weighs about 36 to 38 kg and an adult ewe (female sheep) average body weighs about 24 to 26 kg.   

Indian Sheep Breeds – Keezhakaraisal Sheep:-

• This sheep breed mainly found in Ramanadhapuram, Sivagangai and Thirunelveli districts of Tamilnadu state
• This sheep is raised for meat purpose.
• These animals have medium sized body with black red skin colour and black coloured bands are found on the skin in the areas of head, stomach and legs.
• Generally, these sheep tails are smaller in size and slender.
• Adult male sheep will have stronger coiled horns.
• Most of the sheep are found with wattle, under the jaw/throat regions.
• When it comes weight gain, an adult male sheep average body weight is about 29 to 30 kg where as female sheep body weight is about 22 to 24 kg.

Indian Sheep Breeds – Mecheri Sheep:-

• Mecheri sheep breed is mainly found in Salem, Karur,Erode, Namakkal, and some parts of Dharmapuri districts of Tamilnadu state.
• Mecheri sheep is reared for meat purpose.
• These animals are with medium sized body and pale purplish skin colour.
• Males and females will not have any horns.
• These sheep tails are smaller in size and slender.
• Adult male weighs about 36 kg to 38 kg where as an adult female sheep weighs about 22 to 24 kg.  

Indian Sheep Breeds – Gaddi Sheep:- 

• This breed sheep are small in size, and are distributed in Kishtwar and Bhadarwah tehsils of Jammu. and mainly raised for wool.
• Male sheep are found horned, ewes are found hornless. The fleece is generally white with brown coloured hair on the face of animals.
• This breed wool is fine and lustrous and an average annual yield of 1.15 kg per sheep can be expected which is usually clipped thrice a year.
• This sheep breed undercoat is used for manufacturing of high quality kulu shawls and blankets.

For Exotic Sheep breed information : Read here.

For Goat Farming Information : Read here.