Genetic improvement of sheep for wool and mutton production in India: A review

Abstract

A variety of sheep development programmes and research efforts for improving wool and mutton production in India have been applied. Sheep strains/breeds, Hissardale, Kashmir Merino, Nilgiri Synthetic, Bharat Merino, Avikalin, Avivastra, Avimaans, Patanwadi synthetic etc have been evolved. The Net Work Project on Sheep Improvement (NWPSI) was initiated for survey, evaluation and improvement of indigenous sheep under native environment. Different breeds of sheep are being improved through selection and inter-se-mating. The contribution of crossbreeding to evolving new strains is considered. The performance of indigenous and crossbreds evolved in different environmental conditions of the country are reviewed. Small population size in some of the programmes is major inhibitors of genetic improvement in some experiment. Studies are needed to raise the efficiency of breeding systems involving the flocks of small sheep farmers.