A survey was conducted to study the migratory pattern of sheep farmers in southern zone of Tamil Nadu. Out of 11 migratory tracts in the southern zone, the migration of sheep in tracts 1, 2, 9, 10 and 11 commenced from March and April 15th and ended by 15th of September and November. In tracts 5 and 6, migration of flocks was found to be from February 20th and December 31st. The duration ranged from 91 to 315 days with a mean value of 195.36 ± 23.60 days. The radial distance traveled in migratory tracts ranged from 54 to 360 km with a mean distance of 171.27 ± 30.48 km. The major problem faced by the sheep farmers enroute migration were objections for camping by local sheep owners, road accidents, theft, threat from wild animals, water scarcity, toll paid to local villages and restriction to graze in area under forest.
Migratory pattern, Sheep, Southern zone, Tamil Nadu
