Conservation Status | Not Listed / Native Breed |
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Scientific Classification | - Domain: Eukaryota
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Artiodactyla
- Family: Bovidae
- Genus: Ovis
- Species: Ovis aries
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Breed Type | Meat and Wool |
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Alternate Names | — |
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Origin | Derived from the nomadic tribe “Bakerwals” who traditionally rear these sheep. |
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Distribution | - State: Jammu & Kashmir
- Districts: Jammu, Udhampur, Rajouri
- Geographical Coordinates:
- Latitude: 32°35′N to 34°N
- Longitude: 74°E to 75°E
- Breeding Tract: Migratory across the fragile Shivalik hill range. Key places: Samba, Gogwal, Arnia, Riasi, Kalakot, Nowshera, Pahalgam, Shopian, Sonmarg, Baltal, Toss Maidan, etc.
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Physical Traits | - Coat Colour: Generally white with black head; ~5% are fully black
- Horns: Present in males (2 horns, backward and downward curved). Females mostly polled, sometimes horned
- Visible Characteristics: Medium-sized body with Roman nose, horizontal backward ears, wooly body coat, wool-free head, face, and legs
- Hair or Wool: Wool
- Fibre Type: Coarse / Carpet wool
- Height (Avg): Male – 77 cm, Female – 68 cm
- Body Length (Avg): Male – 81 cm, Female – 67 cm
- Heart Girth (Avg): Male – 108 cm, Female – 88 cm
- Weight (Avg): Male – 42 kg, Female – 33 kg
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Main Use | - Primary: Meat
- Secondary: Wool (Carpet grade)
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Breed Traits | - Sturdy build and excellent climber, adapted to mountainous migratory routes
- Good for long-distance grazing and thriving on natural forage
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Reproductive Traits | - Age at First Parturition: 23–29 months
- Parturition Interval: 12 months
- Litter Size: 1 (Single lambing is common)
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Milk Production | Not recorded |
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Wool Performance | - Fleece Weight: 1.5 kg/year (Range: 0.8–1.8 kg)
- Staple Length: 7.75 cm
- Fibre Diameter: 30 µ (micron)
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Dressing Percentage | 55% |
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Management | - Management System: Extensive migratory grazing
- Mobility: Fully migratory (nomadic)
- Feeding: Natural pastures, jungle hay, tree loppings during winter
- Housing: Temporary enclosures; open-air rearing year-round
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Breed Societies | None |
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Herd Book or Register | No |
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Population | - 2002: 2,596 (Survey by SKUAS&T, Srinagar)
- 2004: 2,600 (Final Report, NATP-MM)
- 2013: 82,334 (Breed Survey 2013, Government of India)
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