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Characterization of the Rampur Bushair sheep in the north temperate region of India

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2011

S.P. Dixit
Affiliation:
National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, Karnal, Haryana, 132 001India
G.K Gaur
Affiliation:
National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, Karnal, Haryana, 132 001India
D.K. Yadav
Affiliation:
National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, Karnal, Haryana, 132 001India
G. Singh
Affiliation:
National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, Karnal, Haryana, 132 001India
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Summary

Rampur Bushair is an important dual-purpose (meat and wool) sheep in the north temperate Himalayan region of Himachal Pradesh state (India). The breeding tract of the breed runs across three districts namely Lahaul Spiti, Kinnaur and Shimla in Himachal Pradesh. Information on three body biometric characteristics, viz. body length from shoulder to pin bone, chest girth and height at wither, qualitative confirmation attributes and body weights of 335 animals were recorded. Animals were strong, well-built and of medium size with a square brow. The animals were mostly white, but black, brown and mottled were also found in good numbers. Typically a prominent Roman nose, convex head, large eyes and pendulous ears (10 cm to 15 cm long) with a prominent mid-ridge were peculiar characteristics of this breed. The males had medium to long (19 cm to 29 cm) curling horns, running backwards and downwards. The ewes were polled. The average adult body weight of males was 34.7 kg and that of females was 26.0 kg. The body weight of adult male and female sheep varied from 24 kg to 47 kg and 18 kg to 40 kg, respectively. Wool yield varied from 200 g to 500 g per shearing. The animals were shorn twice a year (summer and winter). Sexual maturity in males and females is reached at one year of age.

The information on feed, management and breeding practices, flock size and structure, reproductive performance and disease prevalence in the breeding tract was collected through formal interviews, using a structured questionnaire given to sheep owners, who were chosen at random within a structured, stratified framework. There were 98 574 animals of the Rampur Bushair sheep breed in its breeding tract based on the sample survey estimates. The results indicated good scope for improvement of its productivity under the field conditions based on selective breeding.

Resumen

La raza Rampur Bushair es una raza ovina de doble propósito (carne y lana) muy importante en la zona norte templada del Himalaya en el estado de Himachal Pradesh (India). La zona en la que se encuentra la raza se extiende en tres distritos: Lahaul Spiti, Kinnaur y Shimla en el estado de Himachal Pradesh. Se ha registrado información sobre tres características biométricas: largura corporal desde el hombro hasta el hueso pineal, cinchera y altura a la cruz, así como la confirmación cualitativa de los atributos y el peso corporal de 335 animales. Los animales se presentan fuertes, bien conformados y de talla media y con frontal cuadrado. La mayoría de los animales eran blancos, pero el negro, marrón y moteado también se encuentran en buen número de ellos. Las características más peculiares de esta raza son un hocico prominente, cabeza convexa, ojos grandes y orejas colgantes (10 cm a 15 cm de largura). Los machos poseen cuernos curvados de una largura de 19 cm a 29 cm, que van hacia atrás y hacia abajo. Las hembras no poseen cuernos. La media del peso corporal en edad adulta del macho es de 34,7 kg y de la hembra 26,0 kg. El peso corporal medio en los machos y hembras adultos varía de 24 kg a 47 kg y de 18 kg a 40 kg, respectivamente. La producción de lana varía de 200 gr hasta 500 gr por esquilo. Los animales se esquilan dos veces al año (verano e invierno). La madurez sexual en los machos y hembras se alcanza al año de edad. La información sobre alimentación, gestión y prácticas de cría, tamaño de la cabaña y estructura, rendimiento reproductivo y prevalencia de enfermedades en la raza fue recogida a través de entrevistas formales, utilizando un cuestionario estructurado entregado a los propietarios que fueron elegidos al azar dentro de un marco estratificado y estructurado. Hubo 98.574 animales de la raza ovina Rampur Bushair en su ambiente natural en base a las estimaciones de la encuesta.

Los resultados indican que existen buenos motivos para la mejora de su productividad en condiciones de campo con una raza seleccionada.

Type
Research Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2005

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References

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