Department of Animal Production Rajasthan College of Agriculture Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur (Rajasthan)-313 001.
Sonadi sheep are found in Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Bhilwara and Dungarpur districts of Rajasthan and part of north Gujarat. The breeding tract of Sonadi sheep has land area of 42360 sq. km, which is 12.38 per cent of the total geographical area of the state and contains 17.05 per cent livestock population of the state. The animals of Sonadi breed have well built body, long legs, prominent nose, large dropping ears, long tail and white or light brown face. The average body weight of the animals at 12-months and 18-months was reported as 23.31 ±0.12 and 28.01±0.10 kg, respectively. The majority of the farmers keep their animals in open and mixed type of housing during night. The health care practices are very poor but the farmers are well aware about the importance of vaccination, deworming and control of ecto-parasites. The shearing of wool is practiced thrice a year and the wool production ranged from 200–400 g per head per shearing.
Characterization, Evaluation, Sheep, Sonadi
