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Garole: The prolific sheep of India

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2011

G. Sahana
Affiliation:
National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, P.O. Box 129, Karnal 132001, India
S.C. Gupta
Affiliation:
National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, P.O. Box 129, Karnal 132001, India
A.E. Nivsarkar
Affiliation:
National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, P.O. Box 129, Karnal 132001, India
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Summary

A survey on Garole sheep was carried out in the breeding tract for breed characterization. Garole sheep are distributed in the Sundarban region of West Bengal in India. It is a small-sized breed known for its prolificacy and adaptation to the saline marshy land of the Sundarban region. It is believed that these sheep contributed to the prolificacy gene in Booroola Merino sheep of Australia. The breeding tract of Garole sheep falls under the Coastal Saline Zone of West Bengal and the climate of this region is hot and humid. The population of Garole sheep was 206 720 in 1994–1995. This breed is maintained by marginal farmers and landless labourers. Flocks are stationary and average flock size ranges from three to five. They graze on rice fallow land and natural grass cover on the roadsides and water channels. Garole sheep have the ability to graze in knee deep conditions in marshy land. Their colour is generally white. Some animals of black or brown colour are also seen. The male is generally horned and females are polled. They have three distinct types of ears; small, medium and long. Average adult weights in male and females are 15 and 12 kg, respectively. Twin and triplet births are common. The Garole sheep are reared for mutton production. Farmers generally do not shear wool. Fleece is of a coarse quality and is used as bedding material.

Résumé

Une enquête sur la race ovine Garole a été réalisée sur place pour une étude de caractérisation de la race. La race Garole se trouve principalement dans la région de Sundarban dans l'Ouest Bengal aux Indes. Il s'agit d'une race de petite taille bien connue pour sa prolificité y grande adaptation aux terrains marécageux salins de la région de Sundarban. On pense que cette race a contribué a apporter le gène de la prolificacité dans la race Booroola Merino de l'Australie. Le milieu naturel de la race Garole se trouve sous la zone de la côte saline de l'Ouest Bengal et le climat de cette région est particulièrement chaud et humide. En 1994–1995 la population de race Garole était de 206 720 animaux. Cette race est élevée surtout par des petits fermiers et des paysans sans terre. Les troupeaux sont sédentaires et la taille moyenne de chacun est de trois à cinq animaux. Les animaux pâturent dans les jachères des risières et sur pâturages naturles des bords des chemins et des cours d'eau. Cette race possède l'habilité de pâturer même couverte jusqu'aux genoux dans les terrains marécageux. La couleur du manteau est généralement blanche, mais on voit aussi des animaux de couleur noir ou brun. En général les mâles possèdent des cornes et les femelles non. Il existe trois types différents d'oreilles: petites, moyennes, et longues. Le poids moyen à l’âge adulte chez le mâle et la femelle est de 15 et 12 kg, respectivement. Les naissances doubles et triples sont assez communes. La race Garole est élevée surtout pour la production de mouton. Les éleveurs en général n'utilisent pas la laine. La toison n'est pas de bonne qualité et n'est donc utilisée que comme matériel de litière.

Type
Research Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2001

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