Performance Evaluation of Sonadi Sheep

Sheep rearing is an important source of income and occupation to the weaker strata of Indian society, because it possesses a special ability of thriving on natural grasses and except during certain physiological stages of life, do not need any supplemental feed. Very little attention has been paid on the overall improvement of Sonadi sheep which has good potential for milk (1-1.5 kg/day), wool (0.5-1.2 kg/annum) and meat (13.72 kg at slaughter) production. The animals of this breed, being isolated from other sheep breeds, were expected to have developed certain distinctive characteristics. Information on this breed was scanty and no extensive evaluation and characterization undertaken for this breed before. Therefore, characterization and evaluation of Sonadi sheep was undertaken to establish the norms, morphological, physical, physiological characteristics and performance parameters of this breed. This monograph will be useful to the students, livestock breeders, scientists and extension workers to know the importance and to conserve the Sonadi breed of sheep.