A STUDY ON SHEEP PRODUCTION SYSTEMS IN IRRIGATED AND RAINFED AREAS IN KRISHNA DISTRICT OF ANDHRA PRADESH
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Date
2017-12
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SRI VENKATESWARA VETERINARY UNIVERSITY TIRUPATI - 517 502. (A.P.) INDIA
Abstract
ABSTRACT :
A study was undertaken to study various sheep production practices followed by the shepherds in irrigated and rainfed areas of Krishna district. A total number of 250 sheep farmers and their flocks comprising 125 from each area of the district were interviewed by a questionnaire schedule and required information was collected. Out of the total farmers, illiterate sheep farmers constituted about 81.6 and 88 per cent in irrigated and rainfed areas, respectively. Literate farmers recorded were 18.4 and 12 per cent, respectively, in irrigated and rainfed areas studied. Sheep farmers from Backward Communities constituted about 86.4 and 67.2 per cent, followed by Scheduled Castes community 8 per cent and 15.20 per cent, respectively, in irrigated and rainfed areas. Majority of the farmers in both the areas were landless (45.6 per cent in irrigated area and 72.8 per cent in rainfed area) followed by marginal land holders (36 per cent in irrigated area and 16.8 per cent in rainfed area). The average flock size in irrigated and rainfed areas of the district was 66.36±2.32 and 73.62±3.0, respectively. The average body weights in the male for 2 teeth, 4 teeth, 6 teeth and full mouthed animals in irrigated area were 42.0±0.49, 44.50±0.34, 44.33±0.40 and 44.29±0.28; while in rainfed area, the corresponding values were 39.92±0.33, 42.67±0.33, 43.11±0.20 and 43.57±0.20 Kg, respectively. The mean body weight (kg) for 2 teeth, 4 teeth, 6 teeth and full mouthed ewes observed were 31.99±0.270, 36.02±0.240, 37.27±0.167 and 40.52±0.269 kg, respectively, in irrigated area; while in rainfed area, the corresponding values were 29.30±0.40, 34.84±0.40, 37.22±0.35 and 42.01±0.56 kg, respectively, in rainfed area. The average body lengths in the male for 2 teeth, 4 teeth, 6 teeth and full mouthed animals in irrigated area were 76.08±0.22, 77.83±0.37, 78.11±0.30 and 78.71±0.28 cm, respectively. While in rainfed area the corresponding values were 74.75±0.21, 76.17±0.30, 76.89±0.26 and 77.14±0.50 cm, respectively. The mean body lengths for 2 teeth, 4 teeth, 6 teeth and full mouthed ewes were 66.48±0.23, 64.93±0.44, 67.94±0.35, 72.78±0.50 cm, respectively, in irrigated area. While in rainfed area the corresponding values were 64.17±0.46, 64.27±0.37, 65.99±0.32 and 67.43±0.50 cm, respectively. The mean height at withers for 2 teeth, 4 teeth, 6 teeth and full mouthed rams observed were 83.08±0.28, 84.83±0.40, 86.11±0.26 and 84.57±0.29 cm, respectively, in irrigated area. While in rainfed area the corresponding values were 81.33±0.28, 81.83±0.30, 84.78±0.22 and 82.71±0.28 cm, respectively. The average height at withers in ewes for 2 teeth, 4 teeth, 6 teeth and full mouthed animals in irrigated area were 74.62±0.23, 75.93±0.17, 76.75±0.28 and 79.11±0.30 cm, respectively. While in rainfed area the corresponding values were 72.51±0.29, 75.54±0.27, 76.12±0.29 and 76.88±0.31 cm, respectively. The average chest girth for 2 teeth, 4 teeth, 6 teeth and full mouthed rams observed were 82.50±0.19, 85.50±0.42, 86.33±0.33 and 85.00±0.30 cm, respectively, in irrigated area. While in rainfed area the corresponding values were 81.25±0.25, 83.17±0.30, 84.22±0.32 and 83.43±0.20 cm, respectively. The mean values for chest girth in ewes for 2 teeth, 4 teeth, 6 teeth and full mouthed animals in irrigated area were 77.99±0.31, 79.83±0.26, 81.40±0.25 and 82.16±0.34 cm, respectively. While in rainfed area the corresponding values were 73.94±0.31, 78.94±0.31, 81.24±0.52, 86.66±0.49 cm, respectively. The mean punch girth for 2 teeth, 4 teeth, 6 teeth and full-mouthed rams observed were 83.25±0.32, 86.50±0.42, 85.22±0.22 and 85.71±0.28 cm, respectively, in irrigated area. While in rainfed area the corresponding values were 82.42±0.22, 84.83±0.30, 83.56±0.24 and 84.43±0.42 cm respectively. The average punch girth in ewes for 2 teeth, 4 teeth, 6 teeth and full mouthed animals in irrigated area were 80.09±0.33, 83.07±0.40, 84.21±0.28 and 89.24±0.44 cm, respectively. While in rainfed area the corresponding values were 76.09±0.56, 82.65±0.30, 84.84±0.26 and 85.51±0.30 cm, respectively. The average age at first mating in ewes, age at first mating in rams, age at first lambing, lambing interval, age at weaning and weight at weaning in irrigated and rainfed area were 13.16±0.06 and 14.52±0.06 months; 19.89±0.18 and 19.63±0.20 months; 18.24±0.05 and 19.52±0.06 months; 306.68±0.81 and 308.53±1.15 days; 3.71±0.40 and 4.09±0.05 months; 12.57±0.0 and 10.98±0.05 kg, respectively. It was observed that all the farmers in both the areas were rearing sheep extensively. Housing pattern comprising of an open pen along with a closed roof structure was seen in the majority of the sheep holdings in both the areas studied (56 and 57.6 per cent) and most of the shepherds were housing the sheep nearer to their houses (94.4 and 72 per cent). Flock mating commonly followed and flushing was not at all practiced by the shepherds. June – August and January – March were found to be the breeding seasons for the sheep in the area. The mean grazing distance per day was 5.46±0.13 km in irrigated area and 5.8±0.14 km in rainfed area. The mean grazing duration per day was 8.88±0.09 hrs in irrigated area and 9.38±0.12 hrs in rainfed area. All the farmers in the study were following the deworming and vaccination regularly. Majority farmers in both areas were following burial method of carcass disposal (72.8 and 52 per cent). From the study it was observed that the marketing of meat was done mainly through middlemen (84 and 93.6 percent).
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