CONSERVATION OF THE SONADI BREED OF SHEEP IN INDIA

Abstract

SUMMARYA study was carried out to estimate the population of the Sonadi breed of sheep in the Chittorgarh district of Rajasthan (India), which is part of a major breeding tract of the Sonadi breed. A total of 2 443 sheep from 59 flocks of 18 villages belonging to three different tehsils of Chittorgarh were covered in this survey. The population data on sheep from livestock census (1992) were collected and the figures were extrapolated for the purpose. The population of Sonadi sheep in their natural habitat was estimated to be 603 984 while the total sheep population of the tract was 1 792 050. The estimated number of breeding rams available in the natural habitat were 45 907 out of which only 1 I 802 were of the Sonadi breed. There was a higher proportion of crossbred sheep and an even higher proportion of crossbred rams in the breeding tract as compared to the purebreds. It has been postulated that a proportion of cross bred sheep would further increase which coûld be a threat to the Sonadi breed in a real sense. It has been emphasized that steps for conservation are warranted.