Division of Physiology and Biochemistry, Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar Via Jaipur, Rajasthan-304 501
A questionnaire-based survey was conducted to collect information on growth, age of puberty, reproductive performance, reproductive disorders and reproductive management of Marwari sheep in its home tract from 319 sheep farmers located in 17 villages of Jodhpur and Barmer districts of Rajasthan. The data revealed that the birth weight of lambs was 2–3 kg irrespective of sex. The body weight of adult males and females ranged from 30– 40 and 25– 30 kg, respectively. The estrus duration in Marwari sheep was 24 hrs and in majority of cases, age at first mating was 18–24 months. Most of the flocks had lambing rate ranged from 60– 70% with 2– 4% twinning and 10–12 months of lambing interval. The farmers preferred to keep 2 adult rams per hundred breedable ewes and replaced the rams after 3– 4 years. The major reproductive disorders reported by farmers in Marwari sheep were abortion, dystocia and retention of placenta.
Marwari, Reproductive disorders, Reproductive management, Reproductive status, Sheep
