Nellore Sheep : Local Practices for Conservation of Germplasm - A Survey in Kadapa District of Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

A detailed survey was conducted among 150 shepherds depending on sheep farming for their livelihood to know the information about breed preferred, various managemental practices followed like feeding, housing, breeding and healthcare in rural and peri-urban areas in and around proddatur town, kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh, India. Among the total shepherds surveyed, 72% were maintaining Nellore brown sheep and 28% were maintaining goats also along with sheep. 86% of the shepherds were landless and no shepherd was engaging outside labour for rearing animals. 64% of shepherds preferred extensive system of management, followed by semi intensive system (34%) and intensive system (2%). Majority of the shepherds were taking the animals for grazing in the open lands, nearby forests and hilly areas for about 10 hrs in the winter and 6 hrs in summer. More than 86% shepherds were aware of heat symptoms in sheep and goat and only 28% shepherds were maintaining 2-3 rams per flock for practising flock mating while only 18% shepherds were aware of exchange of rams and were exchanging them after every 2 years. Most of shepherds were adopting deworming (98%) and vaccination (96%) to maintain the animals healthy. Approximately 90% of shepherds were seeking the help of a veterinarian for the treatment and vaccination of the commonly encountered diseases in this region.