Characterization and Evaluation of Tibetan Sheep: a key source of livelihood in alpine ecosystem of Sikkim Himalaya

Abstract

The Tibetan sheep is one of the key sources of livelihood for the Dokpas; the high altitude tribal community, designated as the poorest of poor and remotest of the remote in India. Tibetan sheep is very hardy and thrives well in very harsh climatic conditions of Tibetan plateau. At higher altitude, sheep is reared under transhumance system (seasonal cyclic movement) with almost zero input and their movements are mostly governed by weather and pasture availability. Their migratory patterns include alpine pastures at altitude of 4754.88 m above msl in Phalung valley to as high as at altitude of 5638.8 m above msl of cold desert region near the border of Tibetan Autonomous Region, China. The Tibetan sheep is medium size breed with height of adult male and female 77 cm (70 to 80 cm) and 64 cm (60 to 67 cm), respectively and average adult weight 42 kg (37 to 50 kg).The coat colors of Tibetan sheep are mostly white with black or dark brown neck and face. The ewes are polled while the rams are horned with average horn size of 18.40 ± 0.73 cm. Their ears are drooping with average length of 11.09 ± 0.20 cm and 6.29 ± 0.06 cm for male and female respectively.  The sheep also acts as rejuvenator of the whole alpine agro-ecosystem as its act of grazing prunes of the vegetation, maintaining soil fertility through urine and its pallets. It also helps in seed dispersal, pollination and seed germination. Presently, Tibetan sheep population is declining and only 235 animals are present in Sikkim, which is very alarming for the existence of this valuable sheep and needs immediate conservation.