SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF THE MECHERI SHEEP FARMERS AND ECONOMICS OF REARING UNDER FARMER’S MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
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Date
2004-01
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Indian Society for Sheep and Goat Production and Utilization
Abstract
The study was made on 2309 house holds in Mecheri sheep breeding tract to collect
information on socio-economic status of farmers, marketing and economics of Mecheri sheep
under farmer‘s field condition. The average family household size of Mecheri sheep farmers was
4.33 i 0.02 with literacy rate of5l.73 %. The percentage of farmers belonging to backward, most
backward and other communities were 64.1. 29.5 and 6.40 %, respectively. The average annual
family income was Rs. l9,432i202. The mean land holding size was 5.3i0.23 ha. of which, the
irrigated and unirrigated land constituted 33 and 67 %. respectively. The percentage of farmers
with marginal, small, medium and large land holding size was 19.70, 34.95. 35.41 and 0.73,
respectively. The Mecheri sheep was generally sold in the weekly markets or the traders who
visited the villages periodically. The number of sheep sold per year in the flock size of 6-15. 16-
25, 26-50 and above 75 was 81.8, 67.70, 52.30 and 26.50 %. respectively. The total capital
investment needed for establishing a breeding stock for an average flock size of 17.6 was Rs.
34314.2 and the total recurring expenditure and the gross income obtained was Rs. 9,524.40 and
13,073.78, respectively. The study revealed that the Mecheri sheep rearing provided their owners
regular income and employment opportunities. The income/sheep was marginal and the return
from the animals could be improved through concerted effort to extract more benefits by improved
sheep husbandry practices.
Description
TNV_IJSR_2004_10(2)1-6
Keywords
Veterinary Science