Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 August 2011
A study was carried out to estimate the population of the Sonadi breed of sheep in the Chittorgarh district of Rajasthan (India), which is part of a major breeding tract of the Sonadi breed. A total of 2 443 sheep from 59 flocks of 18 villages belonging to three different tehsils of Chittorgarh were covered in this survey. The population data on sheep from livestock census (1992) were collected and the figures were extrapolated for the purpose. The population of Sonadi sheep in their natural habitat was estimated to be 603 984 while the total sheep population of the tract was 1 792 050. The estimated number of breeding rams available in the natural habitat were 45 907 out of which only 1 I 802 were of the Sonadi breed. There was a higher proportion of crossbred sheep and an even higher proportion of crossbred rams in the breeding tract as compared to the purebreds. It has been postulated that a proportion of cross bred sheep would further increase which coûld be a threat to the Sonadi breed in a real sense. It has been emphasized that steps for conservation are warranted.
Une étude a été réalisée pour estimer la population ovine Sonadi dans le district de Chittorgarh du Rajastan (Inde), qui est la zone principaleoù se trouve cette race dans la région. Dans cette enquête on a relevé un total de 2 443 ovins appartenants à 59 troupeaux de 18 villages de trois zones différentes du Chittorgarh. On a repris les données de la population ovine du recencement (1992) et les résultats on été extrapolés pour cette recherche. La population ovine de Sonadi dans son habitat est estimée aux alentours de 603 984, tandis que la population totale est de 1 792 050. Le nombreestimé de moutons disponibles dans leur habitat naturel est de 45 907, dont seulement 11 802 appartiennent à la race Sonadi. Il existe une grande proportion de brebis croisées et une assez grande proportion de moutons croisés dans les districts en comparaison avec le nombre de race pure. On a estimé que si la proportionde races croisées continue à augmenter, ceci ira au détriment de la race Sonadi. On souligne l'importance des mesures à envisager dans le but de conserver cette race.