Economics of Sheep Production in Arid Western Rajasthan

Abstract

The study of costs and returns in sheep rearing in the three agroclimatic zones of arid Rajasthan revealed that sheep enterprise was highly profitable in zones I and II, but not so in zone III. The net returns for a unit of 100 sheep were Rs. 4805 in zone I, Rs. 3534 in zone II. In zone III, the returns over actual . costs were Rs. 289 compared to Rs. 2916 and Rs. 1466 in zones I and II, respectively. The low returns in zone HI was traced to the low yielding characteristic of Marwari sheep breeds, higher mortality of lambs (40%) high stocking rates (6 animal units per hectare) and lower price quoted for the products of this breed. Since sheep were essentiallay raised on grazing lands the cost of feeding was negatively related with availability of grazing resources. High stocking rates may therefore endanger the profitability of the enterprise. Measures to check mortality rates along with development of marketing infrastructure for sheepskin, hoof etc. are suggested The streng the ning of wool marketing Federation with adequate finances has been recommended.