As per the 2003 Livestock Census there are about 561.47 million sheep and 124.36
million goats in the country. About
five million households in the country are engaged in the rearing of small
ruminants (sheep, goats and rabbits) and other allied activities. The main
reasons for low productivity are poor exploitation of genetic potential of
indigenous animals, low absorption of available technology, inadequate resource
of feed and fodder, insufficient health cover, inadequate marketing and credit
support etc. The estimated wool production was about 485 lakh kg during
2003-2004.
Central sheep breeding farm:
Central Sheep Breeding Farm, Hissar is producing acclimatized exotic/ cross bred
superior quality rams. The farm has supplied 1360 rams during 2003-04 to
different States.
Conservation of threatened breeds:
The population of some of the pure bred small ruminants, equines, pigs and pack
animals has come down considerably and such breeds has come to the category of
threatened breeds in the country. The farms or the farmers unit in their
respective breeding tract are to be established with 100% central assistance for
breeds of these animals wherein their population is less than 10,000, with
active participation of State Governments and NGOs etc.
A centrally sponsored scheme for conservation of such threatened breeds
was started during Tenth Five Year Plan. A sum of Rs.876 lakhs has been released to the States of
Arunanchal Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Predesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Manipur,
Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura and West Bengal for
conservation of breeds like Pony (Spite, Bhutia and Manipuri), Horse (Kathiawadi,
Grey Sindhi and Marwari), Pig ( Doom, Zovawk, Angamaly, Don, Mali and Ghoongro),
Yak (Yak and Hazi), Goat( Long Haired Goat, Black Bengal and Malabari) and
Sheep(Bandur and Bonpala) .