SARJAN RAO, K (Major)VENUGOPAL NAIDU, KESWARA PRASAD, PSATYANARAYANA REDDY, P.V.VSARAVANA KUMAR, K2016-12-202016-12-202003-08http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/91634ABSTRACT : In the present study an attempt was made to study the migratory pattern of Nellore sheep and their performance in Nellore and Prakasam districts of Andhra Pradesh. A benchmark survey was conducted on 108 migratory sheep farmers from the identified eight major (above 90 kms path) and ten minor (below 90 kms path) migratory tracts of the two districts (shown in 7 maps) to assess the reasons and problems during migration and impact of migration on their socio-economic conditions. The major reasons for migration of sheep flocks were lack of water and feeding resources (83.33 to 85.18%), traditional practice (78.70%), successive drought (76.85%), disease out breaks (75.90%) etc. Migration in major tracts had commenced from January 15th upto the end of July with a mean duration of 131.25 ± 11.78 days covering 125.25 ± 10.43 kms and in minor tracts from March to the end of June for a distance of 42.90 ± 2.22 kms in a period of 51.50 ± 4.30 days. The average duration (days) of migration in the identified tracts of the study was 91.38 ± 8.04 to cover a distance of 84.08 ± 6.33 kms. The average flock size was 64.38 ± 2.97 for migratory flocks against 29.92 ± 1.38 for non-migratory flocks in the study area. The total per cent of life stages retained from migration were 22.07 ± 4.92, 8.87 ± 2.94, 31.28 ± 2.37 and 11.92 ± 2.89 for the pregnant, lactating, suckling and weaners, respectively. The mean grazing time, mastication rate / mt and rumination rate / hr observed were 6 hrs. 39 mts, 75.06 ± 1.92 and 64.11 ± 0.86 respectively. Out of 108 each migratory and non-migratory farmer groups studied 71.30 and 57.41 percentage belonged to AL, 12.96 and 12.04 SF, 6.48 and 10.21 MF and 9.26 and 20.34 LF groups, respectively. The comparison of the involvement of social groups based on land holdings in both systems of sheep rearing was non-significant. However, social groups based on community, about two thirds of sheep farmers belonged to BC's (popular community was 'Yadavas') followed by SC and ST (17.59%) and the rest (15.47%) from FC, whereas the FC farmers involvement was better than SC and STs in non-migratory system. Out of the family size of 10.25 ± 0.70 and 7.13 ± 0.45, the male and female members ratios were 1.5:1 and 1.4:1 in migratory and non-migratory farmer households of major tracts identified in the study. The family members mostly, male vs female members utilization pattern was significantly (P < 0.01) higher in major tracts (66.23 ± 2.20 Vs 37.27 ± 2.98). The family labour utilization pattern in minor tracts was also significantly (P < 0.01) higher for migratory households. The impact of migratory pattern was amply reflected in low literacy rates in males (39.39 ± 3.31) than females (43.91 ± 2.81) in major migratory tracts. The overall literacy rate of 40.48 ± 2.91 was significantly (P<0.01) lower in migratory household against the non-migratory households (62.71 ± 3.01). The migratory sheep farmers in the major tracts were supported by other livestocks including 2.69 ± 0.42, 2.60 ± 0.40 and 3.08 ± 0.42 number of buffaloes, cattle and goats with an estimated value of Rs. 9,943.75, Rs. 8320.00 and Rs. 2152.50, respectively and the value of sheep flocks was double (2.03:1) than the value of other supported species where as the non-migratory sheep farmers were supported by 3.59 ± 0.95, 3.68 ± 0.50 and 3.65 ± 0.41 number of buffaloes, cattle and goats with the overall estimated value of Rs. 18,603.75 (0.70:1). The mean gross income and per capita income per annum from migratory sheep flocks were significantly (P < 0.05) higher due to higher flock asset value and hire service charges. Higher percentage (80.55) of sheep farmers responded for the problem related to the gastrointestinal parasitism followed by non-availability of vaccines (77.77%), diseases onset (75.92%), presence of diseases in the villages of migratory path (72.22%) and lack of veterinary facilities (70.37%). The influence of migratory phase on certain biochemical constituents and haematological values was observed as significantly higher values for calcium, Phosphorus, glucose, total protein, globulin, albumin, creatinine, urea SGOT and SGPT and lower levels of cholesterol during active migratory phase. Hb, RBC, PCV and WBC values were significantly (P<0.01) increased during active migratory phase. These variations were not beyond the normal ranges of species specific. Migratory phase had a positive influence on number of ewes on standing heat and their rate of conception, birth weights of the lambs, serving capacity of rams and a negative influence on prenatal and neonatal mortality, number of lambs born and weaning weight. The incidence of parasitic diseases i.e., Amphistomiasis (63.89% Vs 16.67%), Monieziasis (22.22 Vs 30%), Fascioliasis (58.33% Vs 19.44%), Strongylosis (38.89% Vs 19.44%) and Babesiosis (8.33 Vs 0) was observed in migratory Vs non-migratory flocks. The incidences of infectious diseases like ET, Blue tongue, Anthrax, FMD, Foot rot, sheep pox and PPR were observed more for migratory compared to non-migratory flocks.MIGRATORY PATTERN; NELLORE SHEEPThesis