Production performance appraisal of magra sheep in farmers’ flocks of arid region

Abstract

Magra is one of the important carpet wool breeds of arid region of Rajasthan. Since 2013, a field unit of Magra sheep was established at Arid Research Campus (ICAR-Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute), Bikaner under Network Project on Sheep Improvement to bring genetic improvement of Magra sheep in the farmers’ flocks. A total of 9817 sheep belonging to about 100 farm families were registered in five villages during six years from 2013 to 2018. More than 100 elite rams of Magra breed were supplied from the institute to sheep breeders for genetic improvement of field animals for wool and body weight traits. The overall least squares means for body weight at birth, 3, 6 and 12 months were 2.71±0.00, 15.46±0.03, 21.93±0.06 and 28.42±0.08 kg, respectively. The overall mean first greasy fleece yield (GFY) of first clip at 6 months and adult GFY in single clip were 640.1±3.36 and 625.8±2.07 g. All the fixed effects including sex, village and period had significantly (p<0.01) influenced on the body weight traits. The overall mean body weights (6 months) and wool yield (adult GFY, one clip) were improved by 7.67 and 8.70 per cent, respectively in progeny of field animals by use of elite Magra rams from the institute during 2016 to 2019. The study showed that production of field Magraf locks improved bysupply of elite rams fromthe institute.