Phenotypic characterization of Kashmir Merino sheep and its management practices in the Budgam district of Kashmir

Kashmir Merino is a synthetic sheep breed developed in J&K, India for the specific purpose of improving the native germplasm. Meagre scientific studies have been carried out on this breed since then. Therefore, a systematic field survey was undertaken in the Budgam district of Kashmir Division for the characterization and evaluation of Kashmir Merino sheep. Data was collected for body weights, body measurements, wool production, disease prevalence, managemental practices, and mortality of the breed in the area under study. The qualitative data obtained were analyzed on a percentage basis. The quantitative data were subjected to the General Linear Model (GLM) procedure of the SPSS Statistical package. It was seen that the animals were reared under a mixed crop-livestock farming system using a mixture of grazing and stall feeding and stall feeding alone practices. The overall least-squares means for body length (BL), chest girth (CG), paunch girth (PG), height at withers (BH), ear length (EL), ear width (EW), tail length (TL), face length (FL) and body weight (BW) were 60.31±0.16 cm, 84.40±0.22 cm, 92.64±0.29 cm, 68.84±0.22 cm, 10.80±0.06 cm, 6.66±0.09 cm, 33.68±0.21 cm, 24.40±0.08 cm, and 36.30±0.18 kg, respectively. The overall wool production (kg) in males and females was 1.39±0.01 and1.32±0.01, respectively. From the study, it may be concluded that the breed has a fast growth rate. Crossbreeding has improved the genetic worth and production potential of the native breed concerning growth rate, confirmation, production, and reproduction. The variation observed in morphometric and production traits of Kashmir Merino sheep indicates an opportunity for their improvement through selection and management.