Muzaffarnagari is one of the heaviest and tallest sheep breeds of India. A data belonging to 431 Muzaffarnagari sheep in the home tract was recorded to evaluate the morphological characteristics and live weights. The overall least square means for body length, height at withers, chest girth and tail length were 25.6, 34.2, 36.8 and 22.4 cm, respectively in 0–1 month age group lambs. The corresponding body measurements were 52.4, 57.6, 56.8 and 37.2 cm in 1–3 month age; 57.4, 61.0, 63.7 and 43.9 cm in 3–6 month age; 66.8, 70.1, 70.6 and 43.3 cm in 6–9 month age, 81.7, 75.9, 79.7 and 51.9 cm in 9–12 month age and 82.9, 83.9, 85.1 and 53.3 cm in the adult sheep. Sex showed significant influence almost on all body measurements except tail length. The overall least square means of body weights were 6.2, 14.6, 19.6, 22.7, 25.6 and 42.6 kg, respectively in the corresponding age groups. The effect of sex was found highly significant (P<0.01) on live weights in each group except in 0–1 month age group. The results indicated that sheep flocks are raised on extensive production system with 6–8 hours grazing. Breeding and lambing take place throughout the year. Animals are shorn 2–3 times in a year using hand scissors and animal washing is carried out in ordinary water twice a yearn before shearing.
Muzaffarnagari sheep, Morphological characteristics, Body weight, Management practices
