​Management Practices Adopted by Farmers of Budgam in Rearing Kashmir Merino

Abstract

Background: Kashmir Merino is a very important synthetic sheep breed of J and K. It is widely adopted across the Valley. It is an important source of income for the poor and marginalized farmers. An attempt was made to understand the management practices adopted by farmers of Budgam in rearing of Kashmir Merino sheep. Methods: A survey was undertaken in Budgam district understand the management practices used by farmers for rearing Kashmir Merino sheep. Result: Majority of the sheep farmers (68.42) housed Kashmir Merino sheep in Pucca house made of brick structures reinforced with either cement or mud whereas only (31.58%) housed sheep in Katcha houses. Breeding season ranges from April to May and August to December. Majority of the respondents (75.00%) reported autumn season as the main breeding season and only 25% reported spring as main breeding season. The sheep farmer was either having in possession small or marginal land holding. Sheep were reared on semi-intensive feeding systems during early spring and late autumn, intensive system during winter from December to April and extensive system from May to November. The vaccination against infectious diseases, dozing against prevalent parasites and treatment as per morbidity was carried out by expert veterinarians of Department of sheep Husbandry. Poor economic and low technical proficiency are main hurdles for farmers of Budgam to have good housing facilities to manage the breed. Management has significant effect on performance of sheep.