Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-mlc7c Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-20T04:19:53.733Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The Muzaffarnagari sheep, a mutton breed in India

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2011

A. Mandal
Affiliation:
Genetics and Breeding Division, Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Farah, Mathura, 281 122, U. P, India E-mail: [email protected]
L.B. Singh
Affiliation:
Genetics and Breeding Division, Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Farah, Mathura, 281 122, U. P, India E-mail: [email protected]
P.K. Rout
Affiliation:
Genetics and Breeding Division, Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Farah, Mathura, 281 122, U. P, India E-mail: [email protected]
Get access

Summary

The Muzaffarnagari is the largest and heaviest sheep breed of India. It is well adapted to the hot humid irrigated regions. This breed is generally found in the Muzaffarnagari, Bulandshahr, Saharanpur, Meerut, Bijnor and Dehradun districts of Uttar Pradesh and in some parts of Delhi and Haryana. The fast body growth coupled with high feed conversion efficiency are the main characteristics of this breed. The animals are medium to large in size, having slight convex face lines. The coat is generally white and dense but relatively coarse and the head is large with long and drooping ears. Both male and females are polled. The tail is very long and extends to the fetlock joint. The average body weights at birth, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age were 3.49±0.04, 15±0.20, 26.5±3.56, 30.4&0.40 and 33.4±0.46 kg, respectively.

Resumen

La raza Muzaffarnagari es la raza ovina más importante y de mayor peso en la India. Está bien adaptada a las regiones húmedas y cálidas con riego. Esta raza se encuentra en general en los distritos de Muzaffarnagari, Bulandshahr, Saharanpur, Meerut, Bijnor y Dehradun de la zona de Uttar Pradesh, así como en algunos lugares de Delhi y Haryana. El crecimiento corporal veloz unido al eficaz nivel de conversión alimentaria, son las características más sobresalientes de esta raza. Los animales son de tamaño medio grande y presentan líneas faciales ligeramente convexas. El manto is generalmente blancoy denso pero relativamente basto y la cabeza es ancha con orejas largas y caídas. Tanto el macho como la hembra no tienen cuernos. La cola es muy larga y se extiende hasta el menudillo. La media del peso al nacimiento a 3, 6, 9 y 12 meses es, respectivamente, 3,49±0,04, 15±0,20, 26,5±3,56, 30,4±0,40 y 33,4±0,46.

Type
Research Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2000

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Acharya, R. M. 1982. Sheep and goat breeds of India, Animal Production and Health Paper, 30. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy, 4547Google Scholar
Annual Report. 1985. Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Mathura.Google Scholar
Annual Report. 19931994. Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Mathura.Google Scholar
Annual Report. 19941995. Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Mathura.Google Scholar
Annual Report. 19951996. Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Mathura.Google Scholar
Annual Report. 19951996. Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Mathura.Google Scholar
Annual Report. 19961997. Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Mathura.Google Scholar
Anonymous. 1990. Handbook of Animal Husbandry, 7th Edition, Published by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, 65 pp.Google Scholar
Kaila, O. P., Sinha, N. K. & Khan, B. U. 1989. Body weight growth in Muzaffarnagri sheep and its exotic cross-breds. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences, 59: 877880.Google Scholar
Singh, R. N. 1995. Status Paper, Network Project on Sheep Improvement, Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar (Rajasthan), India, 85 pp.Google Scholar
Sinha, N. K. & Singh, S. K. 1997. Genetic and phenotypic parameters of body weights, average daily gains and first shearing wool yield in Muzaffarnagri sheep. Small Ruminant Research, 26: 2129.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Terminal Report. 1993. All India Coordinated Research Project on sheep breeding for mutton. Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Mathura, 1418.Google Scholar