A New Registered Sheep Breed of Tamil Nadu, India
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Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2017) 6(9): 1553-1557 International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 6 Number 9 (2017) pp. 1553-1557 Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com Original Research Article https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2017.609.190 Chevaadu – A New Registered Sheep Breed of Tamil Nadu, India T. Ravimurugan* Veterinary University Training and Research Centre, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS), Nagercoil – 629 601, Tamil Nadu, India *Corresponding author ABSTRACT K e yw or ds The population of Chevaadu sheep is considered as cultural identity of people of southern Tamil Nadu. Mamman Kida and Kida Vettu are the two Chevaadu, Sheep, Tamil Nadu. important cultural events / festivals of southern Tamil Nadu; they prefer only Chevaadu rams for these festivals. Considering the significant role of Article Info this breed of sheep being played in the rural livelihood of communities Accepted: rearing them for meat, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences 19 Ju ly 2017 University (TANUVAS) contributed a significant role for elevation of Available Online: 10 September 2017 Chevaadu to a level of a registered breed. Introduction Tirunelveli district, apparently a dry region, utilised to serve the religious purposes of the has contributed unique livestock species, such local inhabitants. This paper deals the as Kanni aadu and Pallai aadu goat, Kanni biography of Chevaadu sheep and practices of and Chippiparai dog, Kilakarsal and management adopted by the farmers in the Chevaadu sheep, not only for Tamil Nadu but breeding tract. also to the nation. Rich livestock diversity in the district attributed the hard work of Materials and Methods pastoral communities who have been conserving and protecting such germplasm The survey on Chevaadu sheep was carried suited to the local ecosystem. The most out between October 2010 and December interesting of such germplasm is Chevaadu 2012 to document the habitat, morphology sheep, probably the only sheep breed of Tamil and production and reproduction Nadu that have single coat colour performances of the breed and the husbandry (Ravimurugan and Panneerselvam, 2013). practices adopted by the farmers in the Chevaadu is considered as unique, culturally breeding tract. The habitat and distribution of important breed as it survives on dry land as Chevaadu was ascertained by visiting 22 well as coastal ecosystems. Although, both villages and observing 347 flocks and three the males and female of this breed are used weekly markets in Tirunelveli and Tuticorin for meat purpose the males are very specially districts of Tamil Nadu. The breed characters 1553 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2017) 6(9): 1553-1557 of Chevaadu were studied as per the sheep Red, Tiruchy Black, Coimbatore, Mecheri, descriptors of the Food and Agriculture Nilagiri, Ramnad White, Vembur and Organization (FAO, 1986) and the guidelines Kilakarsal. However, the Chevaadu sheep given by the National Bureau of Animal finds no mention in the list of breed made by Genetic Resources, Karnal, Haryana. the above authors. But on personal interaction during the survey on Chevaadu sheep, it was Data on reproduction traits of rams and ewes revealed by the traditional sheep breeders of were recorded by observation and information Tirunelveli district that Chevaadu sheep has provided by the farmers through found a pride of place in their flocks since questionnaire. Information on housing long back. The wizened flock men mentioned pattern, feeding and breeding practices, lamb that they have been rearing Chevaadu sheep care, marketing of animals and other generations together and its legacy was husbandry practices were collected through known to them for the past 50-75 years. questionnaire. The socio-economic status of Chevaadu sheep farmers was studied from 82 Mainly Konar and Pallar communities in farmers and information on family size, land Alangulam, Tirunelveli, Sankarankovil and holding, flock size and income were Nanguneri taluka raise Chevaadu sheep. collected. The data collected were scrutinized, People in Kuruvikulam, Pappakudi, edited and collated. The basic statistics Melaneelithanallur, Manur, and Nanguneri as consisting of mean, standard deviation, well as Ottapidaram Panchayat Union areas of standard error (SE), coefficient of variation Tuticorin District are keeping such unique (CV %) were computed as per Snedecor and sheep breed by maintaining sole extensive Cochran (1989). system. Results and Discussion Table 1 indicates the distribution of sheep breeders in different categories according to Origin, habitat and distribution flock size. The survey found that majority of breeders (24.85%) have very large sized Hindus in the area preferred only brown coat flocks of >100 sheep followed by 24.70% colour ram especially for making offerings to large sized flocks of 76-100, whereas 28.03% the local Goddess. This paved the way for of the breeders have less than 50 sheep with development of brown coat sheep by the them. It is also noted that 56 out of 251 sheep farmers from the existing sheep breeds. It is breeders have medium flock (51-75). likely that the breed might have been originated from Kilakarsal (a breed Morphology predominantly tan) due to the contiguity of the breeding tracts. Katchakatty breed is also The animals are small to medium in size with likely to be one of the progenitors of the breed compact body conformation. The coat colour for similar reason. Both the breeds are is generally brown. The intensity of coat considered to have contributed to the colour varied from light brown to tan. In evolution of Chevaadu sheep. general, dorsal part of the body is light brown in colour and in the ventral part (from the jaw Ganesakale and Rathnasabapathy (1973) and to inguinal region), The brown colour is Acharya (1982) have described the distinct lighter than in the dorsal part. These animals geographical distribution, morphology and are called as “Arichevaadu”. Rams of such morphometric characteristics of the eight breed description are selected for breeding in recognized breeds of Tamil Nadu viz. Madras most of the flocks. The dark brown/tan coat 1554 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2017) 6(9): 1553-1557 colour sheep is named as “Karunchevaadu” The age at first lambing was about 18 months. and surprisingly they appeared similar to The lambing interval and gestation length Madras Red breed of sheep. The color and were 258 and 148 days respectively. other morphological characters of Chevaadu Chevaadu sheep lambed thrice in two years. sheep were distinct from other southern Tamil Litter size was single with rare case of Nadu sheep breeds, viz., Kilakarsal, twinning. Katchakatty and Pattanam (Kumarasamy et al., 2009; Ravimurugan et al., 2012). The Generally, a ewe produce six lambs during its Chevaadu sheep was also distinct from other lifetime, but well cared ewes can produce south Indian breeds, viz., Bellary, Deccani, seven lambs. Lambing rate in majority of the Hassan, Mandya and Nellore (Bhatia and flocks was 72 per cent in main season and 28 Arora, 2005). per cent in off season. The overall lambing percentage was 96. Reproductive disorders Reproduction were not much common in Chevaadu sheep. The age at first breeding for male sheep was The lambing percentage observed in nine months, whereas it was 12 months in Chevaadu was higher than the other hair females. The oestrous cycle varying from 21- sheep of Tamil Nadu viz. Vembur (Chandran, 22 days with a oestrous duration of 35 hours. 1998), Ramnad White (Mahendran, 2009). Table.1 Distribution of Chevaadu sheep farmers Flock size No. of Sheep Breeders Percentage Marginal (< 25 sheep) 29 11.53 Small (26 to 50) 41 16.50 Medium (51 to 75) 56 22.42 Large (76 to 100) 62 24.70 Very large (>100) 63 24.85 Total 251 100 Fig.1 Koodu 1555 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2017) 6(9): 1553-1557 Fig.2 Water source Fig.3 Arichevaadu Rearing practices grazing. Sheep are allowed for watering 2 or 3 times a day based on season and availability. Extensive grazing practices are followed by the The water source is ponds in general and breeders for Chevaadu sheep in the district. The watering from wells is being practiced during main sources of grazing are grasses, herbs, summer months (Fig. 2). stubbles and weeds. Sheep are housed particularly during rainy season; in other Majority of farmers strive to maintain breed seasons the animals are penned in the open field purity and take into consideration breed with nylon nets of about four to five feet height characteristics (Arichevaadu) while selecting supported by iron rods at the corners and the breeding males (Fig. 3). The flocks with throughout the length and breadth. more than 100 ewes observed to have 2 to 3 rams, whereas smaller flocks have only one Figure 1 indicates the special enclosures made ram. The farmers use the same rams for more for the lambs just after its birth by the Chevaadu than 2 to 3 years. Exchange of breeding rams farmers, which is locally called as Koodu. between flocks was not uncommon. Lambs are fed with leaves of Sesbania grandiflora (Agathi) and Azadirachta indica Blue tongue, enterotoxaemia, peste des petis (Neem) for 1 to 3 months before allowed for ruminants and anthrax are the most prevalent 1556 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2017) 6(9): 1553-1557 diseases. The annual mean mortality rates registration committee in its meeting held reported to have six per cent and two per cent during June 2016 has approved the registration respectively for lambs and adults. Coccidiosis of “Chevaadu Sheep” as a breed. Accession and liver flukes are the major causes of number of Chevaadu breed is mortality in lambs and adults respectively. INDIA_SHEEP_1800_CHEVAADU_ 14041. The Chevaadu farmers are happy in Special management contribution made to register the breed. The livestock keepers believe that the breed can get Sheep are washed once in a month if water is wider recognition and they can raise their issues available in ponds; otherwise, no such practices and constraints in sheep rearing with high voice, are followed.