Husbandry practices for Mecheri sheep in its breeding tract of Tamil Nadu

Abstract

This study was carried out in 2309 households located in 60 villages in Mecheri sheep breeding tract. Mecheri sheep are distributed in Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, Erode and Karur districts of Tamil Nadu with the total area of 24, 123.90 km2 , of which, forest, cultivable, uncultivable and permanent pasture and grazing lands constituted 23.95,58.01, 3.78 and 1. 18% respectively. The percentage of sheep, goat, cattle, buffalo and pigs in Mecheri sheep breeding tract were 28.53,23.12,27.25, 17.96 and 3.14% respectively. They were reared under semi intensive system of management and allowed to graze about 7 to 8 h and housed mostly during the nights. The percentage of farmers with open, halfopen and closed type sheds was 94.84, 2.73 and 2.430/0 respectively. The survival rate was very high, indicated its innate resistance to the harsh climatic conditions prevailing in its original habitat. The mortality rate in lambs and adults was 7.52 and 2.30% respectively.