Body weight traits of Kashmir Merino sheep

1. Growth Pattern in Lambs and
Weaners in Organized Farms of
Kashmir
Dr Basharat Amin Kuthu
Joint Director Farms Kashmir

2. Main Aims and Objectives of Department of Sheep Husbandry
• In 1962, Sheep Breeding and Development
Department was carved out of Animal
Husbandry Department with mandate to
improve wool quality and production traits of
native sheep
• Department of Sheep Husbandry Imported
many high yielding breeds like Corriedale,
Ramboillet, Merinos of different inheritances
to improve wool quality traits
• Fortunately while improving wool traits body
weight traits also got improved as correlated
response

3. Main Aims and Objectives of Department of Sheep Husbandry
Include
• Qualitatively and quantitatively improvement of
wool production through extensive cross breeding
programme so as to improve the socio- economic
status of sheep rearing communities
• To study the problems of Sheep Husbandry Sector
with respect to respect of feeding, breeding
management & disease control, therefore, implement
the programmes accordingly
• Employment generation through organized Sheep &
Goat Farming
• Organizing extension programmes to acquaint the
sheep and goat farmers with modern technical know
how through awareness camps and training
programmes etc

4. o Improving fodder resources
o Pasture development
o To bridge the gap between demand and
supply in livestock products
o To improve genetic potential of indigenous
sheep and goat genetic resources by utilizing
modern available scientific tools
o Ensuring a healthy society by safe guarding
against zoonotic disease through surveillance
and monitoring of livestock diseases
Main Aims and Objectives of Department of Sheep Husbandry
Continued…

5. Brief Overview of Sheep Rearing in Jammu and Kashmir
• Sheep is one of the important species of livestock that contributes greatly to
the agrarian economy, especially in the livelihood of a large proportion of small
and marginal farmers and landless laborers
• Sheep rearing is not new to Jammu and Kashmir but has been practiced from
times immemorial
 The statement is supported by recovery of tools made from bone of
sheep and goat during excavation at Gufkral, Pulwama
(Anonymous. 1984)
• Large number of sheep genetic resources like Kashmir valley, Bhakarwal,
Changthangi, Gaddi, Gurez, Karnah etc were reared in J and K
• Although these breeds were possessing unique traits of their own, however,
I. Poor production potential of these breed for wool production
II. Rising demand for apparel wool
III. Worldwide success of cross breeding
Instigated government to adopt cross breeding as breeding policy to improve
wool production in state

6. Growth traits
• Growth, one of the most essential traits in farm animal
production,
• Defined as an increase in tissues and organs of the animals
per unit time
• Is measured as body weight at a specific age
• It is an important measure of fitness of a genotype to a
particular environment
• Early growth traits viz: birth weight, Weaning weight and
average daily gain are the predictors of animals life time
performance.
• These growth traits are also good indicators of
adaptability of an animal to the existing environmental
conditions and are essential for its production and
survivability

7. Pattern of Birth Weight in Sheep Breeding Farms of Kashmir
Birth Weight, an Earliest Available Trait
3.68
3.81
3.86
3.79 3.79
3.62
3.94
3.88
3.40
3.50
3.60
3.70
3.80
3.90
4.00
2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2016-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20
•As is reported in literature birth weight is the weight of the lamb taken immediately
after birth and before it takes colostrum
•It ha significant effect on lamb survival, overall growth rate and market weight
•Birth weight of 3.70 kg in lambs has been observed under our conditions
•In male and female lambs birth weight of 3.54 kg and 3.86 kg, respectively is
observed
•As is evident from graphs it varies across, years, sexes and farms
3.88 3.84
3.55
3.66
3.42
3.83
3.89
3.51
3.10
3.20
3.30
3.40
3.50
3.60
3.70
3.80
3.90
4.00

8. Pattern of Weaning Weight in Sheep Breeding Farms of Kashmir
The Trait is Highly Correlated with the Mothering Ability
13.11
12.51
14.10
13.22 13.21
14.85
14.56
14.31
11.00
11.50
12.00
12.50
13.00
13.50
14.00
14.50
15.00
15.50 13.65 13.54
12.07
13.88 13.88 13.71
14.55 14.55
0.00
2.00
4.00
6.00
8.00
10.00
12.00
14.00
16.00
2012-132013-142014-152015-162016-172017-182018-192019-20
The weaning is done at 4- 5 months age under our conditions
Overall weaning weight of 13.73 kg is observed at our farms with males (14.35 kg)
significantly heavier than females (13.11 kg)
Again difference in weaning weight is observed between farms and also between
years
The difference in weaning weight between farms may be attributed to capability of
persons responsible; Otherwise weaners and dams are usually provided similar
nutrition

9. 18.09
18.84 19.15 18.94
19.72
19.03 18.91
19.55
21.65 22.23 22.52 22.63 22.83 22.88
22.18
22.92
0.00
5.00
10.00
15.00
20.00
25.00
2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20
SMW
TMW
Pattern of Six Months and Yearling Weights in Sheep Breeding Farms
of Kashmir
The traits are important for selection and marketing point of view
Overall six months body weight of 19.03 kg and yearling body weight of 22.82 kg is observed
in SBFs of Kashmir
 The traits were higher in males (19.5 kg and 23.46 kg) than females (18.51 kg and 22.19 kg)
There is variation in SMW and TMW across years

10. .
Pattern of Six months body and Yearling Weight Across Sheep
Breeding farms of Kashmir
18.20 18.00
19.95
18.83 18.86 19.23 19.60 19.56
22.11 21.88
23.57
22.28 22.75
23.42 23.10 23.47
0.00
5.00
10.00
15.00
20.00
25.00
Dachigam Daksum Goabal Hardushiva Kewa Kralpathri Poshnar Zawoora
SMW
TMW
Across SBF difference in SMW and TMW is observed
Highest body weights at 6 and 12 months of 19.95 kg and 23.57 kg, respectively is
observed at SBF Goabal

11. • The difference across years and farms proves definite role of management,
nutrition and officers at helm of affairs in expression of genetic worth of sheep
• The Kashmir Merino sheep managed at Sheep Breeding farms has adopted to
environmental conditions of Kashmir
• The growth traits have also improved as correlated response while improving
wool production
Overall Assessment

12. • Committee of geneticists framed to supervise breeding management including
data recording at farms
• Importation of 120 Australian Merino ram and 299 ewes to tackle inbreeding at
farms
• Adoption of line breeding at farm for sustained management of Australian
Merino and Kashmir Merino
• Augmenting production through Fec- B Introgression
Policies to Improve Growth Traits at Organized Farms