Breeds of sheep Sheep are generally classified into 3 typ | NABARD GRADE -A (RDBS), IBPS AFO, RRB Agriculture Officer - Preliminary, Mains & Interview Preparation

Breeds of sheep

Sheep are generally classified into 3 types based on the products obtained from them.
Wool purpose breeds
Meat purpose breeds
Dual purpose breeds (both meat and wool)

1. Wool purpose breeds:
They produce good quality and quantity of wool. These sheep are mainly seen in Australia, Spain, and Russia etc. Few examples are Rambouillet, Soviet Merino etc. Indian breeds are Gaddi, Gurez and Karnah from HP.

2. Meat purpose breeds: These breeds of sheep produce good quality and quantity of meat. There are fast growing breeds and gain more body weight in short time. The examples of Indigenous breeds are Malpura, Sonadi, Macheri, Ramnad, Vemluretc.and examples of Exotic breeds are rambouillet, Dorset horn, and South Down.

3. Dual purpose breeds (Both meat and wool): These breeds produce fairly more quantities of meat and wool as compared to native breeds. Few examples of Indian breeds are Deccani, Hassan, Nali, Coimbatore, Ganjam etc. These breeds are acclimatized to their areas of a country.

India has produced many varieties of cross breed sheep suitable for different climates such as Kashmiri Merino, Avikalin, Avivastra andBharath Merino etc.