| Conservation Status |
Not Listed / Native Breed |
| Scientific Classification |
- Domain: Eukaryota
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Artiodactyla
- Family: Bovidae
- Genus: Ovis
- Species: Ovis aries
|
| Breed Type |
Fibre (Wool), Meat |
| Alternate Names |
Changluk, Hunyia |
| Origin |
The breed originates from the high-altitude region of Changthang in Ladakh. “Changthang” means northern plains in Tibetan. It has been developed through selection by the traditional Changpa shepherd community. |
| Distribution |
- State: Jammu & Kashmir (Now Union Territory of Ladakh)
- District: Leh (Durbuk & Nyoma blocks)
- Geographical Coordinates:
- Latitude: 32°50′N to 34°20′N
- Longitude: 77°0′E to 79°40′E
|
| Physical Traits |
- Coat Colour: White with brown patches on eyelids, ears, muzzle, legs, hocks, and hooves
- Horns: Present in both sexes; 2 horns curving backward, downward, forward, and upward
- Wool Type: Coarse / Carpet wool
- Visible Characteristics: Strongly built animals with good fleece cover and long staple. Legs, face, and tail are wool-free. Medium, drooping ears.
- Height (Avg): Male – 59.75 cm, Female – 58.83 cm
- Body Length (Avg): Male – 61.25 cm, Female – 60.5 cm
- Heart Girth (Avg): Male – 64.87 cm, Female – 63.5 cm
- Weight (Avg): Male – 38.64 kg, Female – 34 kg
- Birth Weight (Avg): Male – 2.59 kg, Female – 2.36 kg
|
| Main Use |
- Primary: Wool (used for carpet weaving)
- Secondary: Meat production
- Comment: Integral to the livelihood of Changpa nomads, who depend on sheep, goats, and yaks in high-altitude regions
|
| Breed Traits |
- Well adapted to snow, extreme cold, and high-altitude conditions
- Fleece is of long staple, coarse fibre suited for carpets
- High resilience and survivability under extensive migratory grazing systems
|
| Reproductive Traits |
- Age at First Parturition: 28 months (avg)
- Parturition Interval: 12 months
- Litter Size: 1 (usually single lambing)
|
| Milk Production |
- Milk Yield: Not recorded
- Milk Fat %: Not recorded
|
| Wool Performance |
- Fleece Weight: 0.95 kg/year (range: 0.9–1.5 kg)
- Staple Length: 9.4 cm
- Fibre Diameter: 41.14 µ (micron)
|
| Dressing Percentage |
41% |
| Management |
- Management System: Extensive grazing
- Mobility: Stationary in highland pastures; not brought down to lower altitudes
- Feeding: Grazing on natural pastures
|
| Breed Societies |
None |
| Herd Book or Register |
No herd book or breed register established |
| Population |
- 2001: 66,822 (NWP, SKUAST, Srinagar)
- 2003: 74,180 (Network Project on AnGR, NBAGR, Karnal)
- 2013: 65,115 (Breed Survey 2013, Government of India)
|
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