🐏Sheep Farming - Breeds (Merino, Corriedale, Nali, Magra), Wool Types and Management

• Ovis aries

• Family: Bovidae

• Sheep are mostly reared for meat and wool. These are the two primary economic products of sheep farming, with some breeds also providing milk and skin as additional products.

• Wool potential:

  • Exotic breeds: 3.5-5 kg
  • Indian breeds: 1-2 kg

  The significant difference in wool yield between exotic and Indian breeds highlights the scope for improvement through crossbreeding and selection programmes.

• Two types of wool obtained from sheep:

  • Carpet Wool: Use for manufacturing of carpets. Carpet wool is coarser, stronger, and more durable, making it ideal for floor coverings that need to withstand heavy foot traffic.
  • Apparel Wool: Use for manufacturing of cloths. Apparel wool is finer, softer, and lighter, suitable for garments, shawls, and other clothing items.

• Meat of sheep is Mutton, Hogget (A domestic sheep between one and two years of age) and Lamb. Lamb refers to meat from sheep less than one year old and is generally more tender and mild-flavoured than mutton (from adult sheep). MCQ trap: lamb = below 1 year; hogget = 1–2 years; mutton = above 2 years.
• Nutrition:
  • Sheep prefer ground vegetarian grasses, legumes, and wide varieties of forages. water requirement adult sheep 2 - 4 liters. Unlike goats which are browsers, sheep are predominantly grazers, preferring to feed on ground-level grasses and legumes.
  • Lambs and kids will suckle from the mother until they are 4 months old but they will start to show an interest in green plants from 3 weeks of age. This early interest in forages is a sign of developing rumen function and should be encouraged.
  • Flushing is feeding extra concentrates to pregnant sheep to increases the lambing rate. Flushing is typically done 2-3 weeks before mating and involves increasing the nutritional intake (especially energy) to boost ovulation rates, resulting in more twin and triplet births.

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Nomenclature

• Cosset: Lamb raised without help of its mother. A cosset lamb (also called a bottle lamb or pet lamb) is typically an orphaned or rejected lamb that must be hand-reared using bottle feeding.

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Breeds

👉🏻 Sheep breeds can be classified on the basis of Agro-ecological regions viz.

Within parenthesis is the major product of the breed. Apparel wool (AW); Carpet wool (CW); Mutton and Carpet wool (MCW); Mutton (M).

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Bikaneri

• AKA Magra.
• The Magra sheep is known as the only lustrous carpet wool-producing breed. Best Carpet Wool. The Magra (Bikaneri) produces a uniquely lustrous, white carpet wool that is unmatched by any other Indian sheep breed. This lustre gives carpets made from Magra wool a distinctive sheen.

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Chokla

• This breed is distributed in Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar (Shekawati Region) & Bikaner districts of Rajasthan.
• Known as ‘Merino of Rajasthan’; produces fine carpet/transitional apparel wool; clip increasingly diverted to worsted apparel sector. The Chokla produces finer carpet wool compared to the Magra, making it suitable for high-quality carpet manufacturing.
• AKA Merino of Rajasthan. This nickname reflects the Chokla’s fine wool quality, which is reminiscent of the world-famous Merino breed.
• Staple length is about 5-6 cm.
• Fibre diameter: approximately 26–28 microns — the finest among all Indian sheep breeds, earning it the “Merino of India” / “Merino of Rajasthan” title.

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Marwari

• This sheep breed is mainly distributed all over Jodhpur and parts of Jaipur districts of Rajasthan.
• This sheep breed possess long legs, black face and a prominent nose. The black face is the key visual identifier for Marwari — a common MCQ feature.
• Product: Carpet wool + mutton (dual-purpose). Carpet wool quality is coarser, suited for rug manufacture.
• This sheep breed has high disease tolerance, which increases the survival rate. The disease tolerance of the Marwari breed makes it an excellent choice for low-input farming systems where veterinary care may be limited.

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Shahabadi

• Distribution/Origin: The Shahabadi sheep breed, is native to the erstwhile Shahabad (subsequently bifurcated into the Bhojpur, Rohtas and Buxar districts), Patna and Gaya districts of Bihar.
• A Bihari dual-purpose breed; produces coarse hairy wool (~0.184 kg/year, ~52 µm fibre diameter). The Shahabadi is native to the Shahabad region of Bihar and serves both meat and wool purposes, though its wool is coarse and hairy rather than fine.

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Nali

• Origin: Rajasthan (Ganganagar, Bikaner, Churu districts).
• Dual-purpose breed: carpet wool + meat.
• Wool yield: ~2 kg/year; fibre diameter ~39 µm (medium carpet wool).
• Wool is white, medium-stapled, and suitable for carpet manufacturing.
• At ~39 µm, Nali falls in the coarse/carpet wool range (>35 µm). It is one of the better-known dual-purpose Rajasthan breeds alongside Chokla and Magra.

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Deccani

• The Deccani breed derives its name from the region Dakkan (Deccan) corresponding to its original spread across the Semi-arid & Deccan plateau of Telangana, Parts of AP, Northern Karnataka, Maharashtra, and parts of Northern Tamil Nadu.
• Fit for weaving Kambal as wool is of low grade. Hence, mostly used for the manufacture of rough blankets (Kambals). Kambal is a traditional coarse blanket widely used in rural India, and the Deccani’s coarse wool is well-suited for this purpose.
• Deccani is a recognised meat breed.
• Product classification: Mutton + Carpet Wool (MCW). Primarily valued for mutton in the Deccan region. Similar to Nellore in being a meat-dominant breed of peninsular India.

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Trichy black

• These are distributed in Trichy, Perambalur, Dharmapuri and Salem districts of Tamilnadu.
• It is wool purpose breed.
• These are smaller breeds.
• Black coloured all over the body. The uniform black colouration is the most distinguishing feature of this breed.

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Mandya

• Mainly found in Mandya district of Karnataka.
• Relatively small animals colour white - sometimes face is black coloured which may extend up to neck.
• Best mutton type conformation among the Indian breeds. The Mandya is renowned for its excellent carcass quality and is considered the best indigenous breed for mutton production in India, with a compact body, broad back, and well-developed hindquarters.

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Nellore

• It is distributed in Nellore and Ongole districts of Andhra Pradesh.
• It is the tallest breed of sheep in India. The Nellore sheep can reach a height of over 75 cm at the withers, making it the largest indigenous sheep breed.
• Resembling goats in appearance. The tall, leggy build and hair coat of the Nellore sheep give it an appearance that is more similar to a goat than a typical woolly sheep.
• They have little hair and no wool is obtained from them. The Nellore is a hairy sheep rather than a woolly one, and is reared exclusively for meat production.
• Rams are horned ewes are polled.

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Neelagiri

• These are distributed in Neelagiri district of Tamilnadu. The Nilgiri sheep is found in the cool, hilly terrain of the Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu.
• It is wool purpose breed.
• Majority are found in white colors.

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Gaddi

• Sheep are small in size, and are found in Kishtwar and Bhadarwah tehsils of Jammu. (Himalayan Region Breed). The Gaddi sheep is well adapted to the harsh Himalayan conditions including steep terrain, cold temperatures, and high altitudes.
• A large number inhabit the Kulu valleys in HP winter, and in summer they graze the highest elevations of them Pir Panjal Mountains, mostly in the Paddar range. This seasonal migration (called transhumance) between lower valleys in winter and high mountain pastures in summer is a traditional practice that optimises forage utilisation.
• Rams are horned, ewes hornless; fleece is generally white with brown coloured hair on the face.
• Wool is fine and lustrous; average annual yield is 1.13 kg per sheep, clipped thrice a year.
• Undercoat is used for the manufacture of high quality Kulu shawls and blankets. The fine undercoat of the Gaddi sheep produces the raw material for the famous Kullu shawls, which are a prized handicraft product of Himachal Pradesh.
• Product classification: Carpet wool (CW). A migratory Himalayan breed; also found in Himachal Pradesh. Do not confuse with Bhakharwal (J&K) — both are migratory Himalayan carpet-wool breeds.

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Avikalin

• Rambouillet × Malpura. The Avikalin was developed by crossing the exotic Rambouillet with the indigenous Malpura breed to combine fine wool quality with local adaptability.
• This breed is quite suitable as a dual-purpose sheep for carpet wool and mutton production.

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Hissardale

• Hissardale was evolved at the Government Livestock Farm, Hissar, through crossbreeding Australian Merino rams (male) with Bikaneri (Magra) ewes (female). Note the correct combination: Merino rams (males) were crossed with Bikaneri ewes (females), not the other way around. This is an important detail for competitive exams.

• The rams of this breed were earlier distributed in the hilly regions of Kullu, Kangra etc.

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CSWRI — Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute

• Location: Avikanagar, Tonk district, Rajasthan.
• Under ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research).
• The premier institute for sheep and wool research in India, responsible for developing several improved breeds through systematic crossbreeding programmes.
• “Avikanagar” literally means “city of sheep (Avi)” — a helpful memory aid for location-based MCQs.
• Breeds developed at CSWRI Avikanagar:

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Bharat Merino

• Developed by CSWRI, Avikanagar.
• Cross: Rambouillet × Chokla/Corriedale.
• Purpose: Fine apparel wool production in temperate conditions.
• Fleece: ~4.2 kg/year; fibre diameter ~21 µm (fine apparel grade).
• Suited for hilly and temperate regions of India where fine apparel wool production is viable.

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Reproductive Parameters in Sheep

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Exotic Breeds

Merino

• Native of Spain. The Merino originated in Spain and was jealously guarded for centuries before being exported to other countries.
• Fine wool breed. The Merino produces the finest quality apparel wool in the world, with fibre diameter as low as 11–24 microns.
• Approximately 40–50% of global apparel wool comes from Merino and its crosses (Source: IWTO). This statistic underscores the global dominance of the Merino breed in the apparel wool industry.
• Fleece yield: 4–8 kg/year (superior to Indian breeds’ 1–2 kg). The high fleece weight is why Merino rams were used in crossbreeding programmes like Hissardale and Bharat Merino.
• Why micron count matters: Lower micron = softer fibre against skin = premium apparel value. Merino wool at 11–18 µm is used for next-to-skin garments (base layers, fine knitwear); above 25 µm can feel scratchy.

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Rambouillet

• This sheep breed was developed in France. The Rambouillet was developed at the Royal Farm of Rambouillet near Paris from Spanish Merino stock.
• This sheep also known as Rambouillet Merino or French Merino. The name reflects its Merino ancestry and French development.
• It produces an excellent fine-wool fleece.

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Dorset

• The Dorset Horn is an endangered British breed of domestic sheep. The Dorset is notable for its ability to breed out of season, making it unique among sheep breeds. This trait is valuable for producing lamb at times when market prices are highest.

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Corriedale

• Native of New Zealand.
• Corriedale sheep are a dual-purpose breed, meaning they are used both in the production of wool and meat. The Corriedale produces medium-fine wool that is well-suited for hand spinning, while also providing good-quality meat.
• The Corriedale is one of the oldest and most widely kept crossbred wool breeds, a Merino × Lincoln cross developed almost simultaneously in Australia and New Zealand and first brought to the United States in 1914. This cross combined the fine wool of the Merino with the larger body size and meat qualities of the Lincoln.
• Wool fibre diameter: ~28–31 µm — falls in the medium wool category (25–35 µm). Used in Bharat Merino crossbreeding at CSWRI.

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Sheep Clone

• Cloned sheep produced named as Dolly.
• Dolly the sheep was the first mammal to be cloned from an adult cell. This was a groundbreaking achievement in reproductive biology and genetic engineering that opened new frontiers in animal science.
• She was born on July 5, 1996 at the Roslin Institute in Scotland.
• Dolly was produced by British developmental biologist Ian Wilmut, who earned the title of “Father of Cloning”. The technique used was Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT), where the nucleus of an adult mammary gland cell was transferred into an enucleated egg cell.

🔭 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqeCUY42A-E

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Dagging (Crutching)

• Dagging or crutching is the cutting away of dirty, wet wool from around the tail and anus (crutch) of the sheep. Dagging is an essential routine management practice that prevents the accumulation of soiled wool, which can lead to serious health problems.
• The wet, dirty wool attracts flies especially the blow flies (bright green or blue in colour). Blow flies are attracted to the warm, moist, soiled wool and lay their eggs in it.
• The flies lay their eggs on the wool and in one or two days maggots hatch from them. This condition is known as fly strike (or myiasis), where the maggots burrow into the skin and feed on the sheep’s flesh, causing severe pain, toxaemia, and potentially death if left untreated.

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Ringing in Sheep

• Ringing - trimming wool around the sheath of the penis of the rams to facilitate mating. Ringing removes the wool that can obstruct the ram’s penis during mating, ensuring successful copulation and improved conception rates in the flock.

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Shearing

• Shearing is the complete removal of the wool and is carried out using machine or hand shears. Shearing is typically done once or twice a year, usually before the onset of summer. It is a skilled operation that must be done carefully to avoid cuts and injuries to the sheep’s skin.
• Shearing seasons in India: March–April (before summer) and September–October (post-monsoon). Spring shearing prevents heat stress; autumn shearing allows wool to grow back before winter.
• Blade shearing (hand shears) vs Machine shearing: Machine shearing is faster and leaves a thin protective layer of wool (~0.5 cm) on the skin; blade shearing cuts closer to the skin. Machine shearing is preferred for large flocks.
• Fleece weight by breed: Merino: 4–8 kg/year; Corriedale: 3–5 kg/year; Indian breeds: 1–2 kg/year. This huge difference explains why India imports fine wool for textile industries.

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Docking

• The removal of tail in sheep is called docking. Docking is practiced primarily for hygienic reasons, as a long tail collects faecal matter and moisture, increasing the risk of fly strike.
• Done in sheep at the age of 7 to 14 days. Early docking is preferred because it causes less pain and heals more quickly in young lambs.

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Seasonal Breeding in Sheeps

Most sheep are seasonally polyestrus and short-day breeders. They start their estrus when the length of the day begins to decrease. This means that sheep naturally begin their breeding season in autumn, when daylight hours shorten.

Photoperiod: the period of time during the day when there is daylight. Photoperiod regulates reproductive cyclicity in seasonal breeders. (Pathways to Pregnancy and Parturition). The pineal gland in the brain detects changes in day length through the eyes and secretes melatonin, which triggers the hormonal cascade that initiates the breeding season.

Sheep are seasonal breeders that enter into the breeding season during shorter photoperiods; thus, they are short-day breeders. This is a critical concept to understand: unlike cattle, which can breed year-round (continuous breeders), most sheep breeds are restricted to breeding during specific seasons when day length is decreasing.

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Diseases in Sheep

Sheep Pox

• Viral Disease. It is highly contagious and spread by contact. Sheep pox is caused by the Sheeppox virus (a member of the Capripoxvirus genus) and is one of the most serious viral diseases of sheep.
• Sheep pox is a notifiable disease (must be reported to authorities). It has the highest morbidity and mortality among pox diseases of livestock in India.
• High fever — Dullness — Isolation from herd discharge from Natural orifices
• Eyes and Nostrils with swelling of eye lids — ‘Pox’ eruptions on the skin of ears, head, inside of thighs, scrotum, lower side of the base of the tail. The characteristic pox lesions progress through stages: macule (flat spot), papule (raised bump), vesicle (fluid-filled blister), pustule (pus-filled), and finally scab formation.
• Sheep pox vaccine developed from indigenous strain by IVRI. The Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) at Izatnagar has developed several important livestock vaccines, including this sheep pox vaccine.

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Blue Tongue

• Bluetongue is an insect-borne infectious non-contagious disease viral disease to which all species of ruminants are susceptible, although sheep are most severely affected. Bluetongue is classified as a non-contagious disease because it does not spread directly from animal to animal; it requires an insect vector.
• Cattle and goats which appear healthy can carry high levels of the virus and provide a source of further infection. These asymptomatic carriers make disease control particularly challenging.
• It is caused by Bluetongue virus (BTV).
• The virus is transmitted by the transmitted by Culicoides midges. Culicoides are tiny (1-3 mm) biting midges that are most active at dawn and dusk. They serve as the biological vector, meaning the virus replicates within the midge before being transmitted to a new host.
• Major signs are high fever, excessive salivation, swelling of the face and tongue, and cyanosis of the tongue.
• Swelling of the lips and tongue gives the tongue its typical blue appearance, though this sign is confined to a minority of the animals. The blue tongue from which the disease gets its name is caused by cyanosis (oxygen deprivation) in the swollen tongue tissues.
• Nasal signs may be prominent, with nasal discharge and stertorous respiration.
• Some animals also develop foot lesions, beginning with coronitis, with consequent lameness.
• In sheep, this can lead to knee-walking.
• In cattle, constant changing of position of the feet gives bluetongue the nickname the dancing disease. The “dancing disease” nickname vividly describes the restless shifting of weight from foot to foot caused by painful foot lesions.

• Control:
  • A live attenuated polyvalent vaccine prior to rainy season. The vaccine is given before the monsoon because Culicoides midges breed prolifically in wet conditions.
  • Annual vaccination.
  • Routine hygiene and sanitation.
  • Vector control is very important in disease prevention. Vector control includes measures such as draining stagnant water, using insecticide-treated nets, and applying insect repellents to reduce midge populations.

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Stargazing

• Stargazing is a term used to describe a deceptively innocuous behavior: the head and neck are raised almost straight up, as if the affected animal is gazing at the stars. This abnormal posture is a neurological symptom that indicates brain or spinal cord involvement.
• This condition is common to several diseases that affect the central nervous system. Diseases that can cause stargazing include polioencephalomalacia (thiamine/Vitamin B1 deficiency), listeriosis, and various parasitic infections affecting the brain.

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Enterotoxaemia (Pulpy Kidney Disease)

• Caused by Clostridium perfringens type D. Also called “pulpy kidney disease” because the kidneys become soft and pulpy at post-mortem examination.
• Affects well-fed, fast-growing lambs — sudden death is common. The disease paradoxically strikes the healthiest-looking animals, earning it the nickname “disease of thriving lambs”.
• Control: Vaccination available; vaccinate before monsoon (see vaccination schedule below). Lambs vaccinated at 6 months, annual booster.

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Foot Rot (Footrot)

• Caused by Dichelobacter nodosus (in combination with Fusobacterium necrophorum).
• Leads to severe lameness; thrives in wet, muddy conditions.
• Treatment: ZnSO₄ (zinc sulphate) footbath is the standard prevention and treatment. Affected sheep should be isolated.

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Contagious Ecthyma (Orf / Sore Mouth)

• Caused by Orf virus (Parapoxvirus). Affects lips, gums, and teats of sheep and goats.
• Zoonotic disease — can spread to humans handling infected animals. Farmers and shearers are at risk; wear gloves when handling lesions.

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Ovine Johne’s Disease (OJD)

• Caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis.
• Chronic wasting disease; profuse diarrhoea, weight loss, bottle jaw (submandibular oedema).
• No effective treatment; control by test-and-cull strategy.

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Sheep vs Goat — Key Differences

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India’s Sheep Population Statistics

• 20th Livestock Census (2019): India has approximately 74.26 million sheep.
• Rajasthan has the highest sheep population among all Indian states. Rajasthan’s arid/semi-arid climate suits wool breeds like Chokla, Magra, and Nali.
• Other major sheep states: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra.
• India ranks among the top 5 countries globally for sheep population.

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Vaccination in Goat and Sheep

Indian Sheep Breeds Quick Reference

Breed	Region	Known For	Product
Magra (Bikaneri)	Rajasthan (Bikaner)	Best lustrous carpet wool	CW
Chokla	Rajasthan (Shekawati)	Finest Indian wool (~26–28 µm); “Merino of Rajasthan”	CW/AW
Nali	Rajasthan (Ganganagar)	Dual-purpose; ~39 µm	MCW
Marwari	Rajasthan (Jodhpur)	Black face; high disease tolerance	MCW
Malpura	Rajasthan	Fine mutton; white; arid-adapted	M
Pugal	Rajasthan	Carpet wool; desert-adapted	CW
Shahabadi	Bihar	Dual-purpose; coarse hairy wool (~52 µm)	MCW
Mandya	Karnataka	Best mutton conformation among Indian breeds	M
Nellore	Andhra Pradesh	Tallest breed; hairy (no wool); goat-like	M
Deccani	Maharashtra/Telangana	Meat breed; coarse wool for Kambal	MCW
Gaddi	J&K / HP	Himalayan; Kullu shawls from undercoat	CW
Bhakharwal	J&K	Migratory; carpet wool; Gujjar-Bakarwal community	CW
Rampur Bushair	Himachal Pradesh	Coarse wool; dark/black colour	CW
Avikalin	Crossbred (CSWRI)	Rambouillet × Malpura; dual purpose	MCW
Hissardale	Crossbred	Merino rams × Bikaneri ewes	AW
Bharat Merino	Crossbred (CSWRI)	Rambouillet × Chokla/Corriedale; ~21 µm	AW

AW = Apparel Wool; CW = Carpet Wool; MCW = Mutton + Carpet Wool; M = Mutton

A strict vaccination schedule is the most effective and economical method of preventing major infectious diseases in goats and sheep. Adhering to the recommended vaccination calendar significantly reduces mortality, improves productivity, and protects the farmer’s investment.

References & Sources

1

G.C. Banerjee: A Textbook of Animal HusbandryBook

2

Wikipedia — Animal HusbandryWeb

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Summary Cheat Sheet