Here is the list of sheep and pig breeds that are found in India.
Sheep Breeds Found in India:
The domestic sheep belong to the phylum-Chordata, class-Mammalia, family-Bovidae. The species of sheep is called as ‘Ovine, and the group of sheeps are known as ‘Flock.’ Adult male of sheep is called ‘Ram’ and adult female is called as ‘Ewe.’ New born of sheep is known as ‘Lamb.’
The female with its offspring is called as ‘Suckling.’
Approximately, over 800 breeds of sheep found in the world in the various sizes, shapes, types and colours.
In India, the breeds of sheep are widely distributed into three regions.
These are as follows:
1. The Temperate Himalayan Region:
In this region comes, Hilly are like Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Garhwali district of Uttaranchal.
Some important breeds of this region are as follows:
The breed is found in hilly area (Kullu and Kangra valley).
The breed is small size, short tail and ears. They are mostly white colour with coloured face. Flock graze high mountains during summer and are moved to lower slopes for the winter. The fleece is fine and lustrous and can grow to 5 inch length used for manufacture of high quality shawls and blankets.
The breed originates from lower hills of Himalayas. Animals are long sized, sturdy and straight backed. The sheep are clipped thrice in a year.
The breed originated from Gurez tehsil of Kashmir state. The Rams are virile and active and the Ewes are good milkers. The wool is good quality. Mutton is considered to be of superior quality.
The medium sized breed, colour is white. The fleece is of medium quality. Male are always horned while females are polled.
The breed is found in Poonch district of Kashmir. Most of the sheep are hornless, tail is short and thick at the base and colour is white. The breed is best for wool production.
This breed has originated from crosses of different merino types and with migratory Indian breeds of Gaddi, Poonchi.
Some important breeds of this region are as follows:
(i) Chokla- This breed is found in the Rajasthan. Head of this breed is small with brown in colour.
(ii) Magra- This breed is found in Bikaner, Churu district of Rajasthan.
(iii) Nali- Large size breed compact head.
(iv) Marwari
(v) Sonadi
(vi) Kathiwari-The home of the breed is Kathiwar, medium-sized breed.
The breeds of sheep of this region are:
(i) Deccani
(ii) Bellary
(iii) Coimbatore
(iv) Madras red
(v) Hassan
(vi) Nellore
(vii) Mandya
(viii) Mecheri
(ix) Vembur
(x) Tiruchy black
Pigs Breeds Found in India:
Recently there are about 60 recognised breeds of domestic pigs in the world. All have 38 somatic chromosomes.
Some important breeds are as follows:
This breed is popular English Bacon breed which had its origin nearly a century ago in Yorkshire and neighbouring countries in Northern England.
Entirely white in colour, head is moderately long, face slightly dished, wide between the ears. Neck is long, fine and proportionately full to shoulders with wide and deep chest. Back is long, level and wide from neck to rump. Legs are straight and well-set level with the outside of the body with flat bone, skin fine and white.
Average weights ranges from 250-350 kg.
This breed was evolved in Yorkshire of Northern England by crossing the large white with smaller breed of Yorkshire extraction.
This breed widely accepted as an excellent pork pig. This breed is hardy, grows rapidly. The colour of this breed is white. Head is moderately short, straight, jaw neck medium long. Back long and level to root of the tail with well spring- ribs. Legs are straight and fairly short.
Mature boars generally weight 270 to 360 kg.
3. Berkshire:
This breed originated in Berkshire (South-central England). This breed is now highly valued as producer of good quality pork. The colour of this breed is black with ‘six white points’ that is, white on feet, nose and tail. Short head with dished face and its ears are erect.
Long back, straights legs, full grown boars weight between 275-375 kg and sow weight from 200-290 kg.
4. Landrace:
The origin of this breed is in Denmark. This breed is white in colour, although black sink spots. The carcass is leaner than that of the meat. There is less back fat and lord.
5. Tamworth:
The origin of this breed is central England. Golden red colour of this breed, extremely good bacon type. Smooth sides and strong backs. The head is strikingly long and narrow with a long snout. The mature boars weight upto 350 kg and the mature sows from 280-300 kg. Particularly, this breed has been widely used for breeding purpose in the tropic countries.
6. Duroc:
This breed is moderately red coloured. The Duroc is noted for excellent rate of gain and feed efficiency. The carcass is considered as a good meat type. The weight of mature boar is about 400 kg and sow weight normally is 350 kg.
7. Chester White:
The breed had its origin in the South-Eastern Pennsylvania. The breed is white in colour with some bluish spots sometimes found on the skin chester. White sow are very prolific.
8. Hereford:
It is one of the new breeds of swine. The breed was originated in Missouri in the USA. The size of this breed is smaller than the other breeds.