Morphometric Characteristics and Production and Reproduction Traits of Sangamneri Sheep in their Breeding Tract

A study was conducted to survey and characterise Sangamneri sheep and document breeding, management and production practices followed by the shepherds in their native breeding tract. During 2023, a total of 72 sheep flocks (8492 sheep) were surveyed in 20 villages of Sangamner block in Ahilyanagar district and 706 animals in Breeding Farms at Ch. Sambhajinagar and Jalgaon (Maharashtra) districts. The survey indicated that the Dhangar community, mainly reared this sheep for generations. The average flock size in the surveyed population was 117.94 (82.20 ewes, 2.40 rams and 33.34 lambs). The mean birth weights in males and females were 3.18±2.15 and 2.60±0.04 kg, respectively. Three-months weights were 18.19±0.23 kg in males and 17.30±0.21 kg in females. The age of lambs at slaughter was little above 3 months, with an average carcass weight of 8.69±0.22 kg in males and 8.03±0.21 kg in females. Daily milk yield of ewe was 603.88±28.66 g, whereas complete yield was 67.24±3.97 kg in a lactation period of 110.83 days, with very high fat content (9.34%). The mean age at first lambing was 449.20±1.41 days and litter size was 1.27±0.02. The study revealed Sangamneri is a mutton-type sheep with better growth rate, multiple births and adaptability to harsh climatic conditions in the breeding tract and an important genetic resource for farmers in the region.