International Journal of Pure & Applied Bioscience (IJPAB)
Year : 2017, Volume : 5, Issue : 2
First page : (332) Last page : (353)
Article doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.2771
Characteristic Features of Registered Indigenous Sheep Breeds of India: A Review
Alok Kumar Yadav1*, Jitendra Singh2 and Shiv Kumar Yadav3
1Ph.D. Scholar, Division of Dairy Cattle Breeding, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute,
Karnal-132001, Haryana, India
2Veterinary officer, Department of Animal Husbandry, Lucknow, U.P., India
3Department of Veterinary Physiology & Biochemistry
CVSc & AH., NDUAT, Kumarganj, Faizabad- 224 229 (UP) India
*Corresponding Author E-mail: alokvet1000@gmail.com
Received: 30.03.2017 | Revised: 11.04.2017 | Accepted: 12.04.2017
ABSTRACT
Indian subcontinent is a rich source of diverse ovine germplasm, and only very few countries have such a large number of breeds with wide genetic diversity. Most of the breeds of sheep in India have evolved through natural adaptation to agro-ecological conditions, followed by some limited artificial selection for particular requirements. Most of the breeds have generally been named after their place of origin and on the basis of prominent characters. This vast ovine biodiversity in India is being eroded rapidly and more than 50% of sheep breeds are currently under threat. Sheep biodiversity in India is characterized by high degree of endemism and variations in agro climatic conditions of the different regions has led to the development of various breeds/strains that are well adapted to specific set of environmental conditions. These breeds have generally been named after their place of origin and some based on their prominent characteristics. Indigenous sheep contribute greatly to the agrarian economy, especially in areas where crop and dairy farming are not economical, and play an important role in the livelihood of a large proportion of small and marginal farmers and landless laborers. Conservation of genetic resources in developing countries is far more complex, because, in a vast majority of the cases, information about available genetic resources, their usefulness and need for and methods of conservation are not clear.
Key words: Indigenous Sheep, India, Biodiversity, Characteristics features, Conservation
Full Text : PDF; Journal doi : http://dx.doi.org/10.18782
Cite this article: Yadav, A.K.,Singh, J. and Yadav, S.K., Characteristic Features of Registered Indigenous Sheep Breeds of India: A Review, Int. J. Pure App. Biosci.5(2): 332-353 (2017). doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.2771
