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Morphometrical and production traits of Bengal sheep in West Bengal, India

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 October 2015

Sandip Banerjee
Sandip Banerjee*
Affiliation:
School of Animal and Range Sciences, Hawassa University, Ethiopia
*
Correspondence to: S. Banerjee, B-1/87, Kalyani, Nadia West Bengal, 741235, India. emails: sansoma2003@yahoo.co.in, sansoma2003@gmail.com
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Summary

The study was conducted to phenotypically characterize the Bengal (Desi) sheep in some purposively selected villages of Nadia and Murshidabad districts of West Bengal, India. The Bengal sheep is reared as mutton sheep and has not been studied or characterized. Qualitative (coat colour and tail type) and quantitative (height at withers, height at rump, chest circumference, paunch girth, oblique body length, head length, head width, ear length, horn length, shoulder width, ear width, pelvic width, canon length, length of the fore leg, length of the hind leg, fore canon circumference, neck circumference, neck length, body weight) traits were included in the study. Phenotypic traits indicated that the sheep is of a small, thin tailed type adapted to grazing in water logged areas and lowly to moderately prolific. The structural indices indicate that the sheep is forward aligned, robust and rectangular in shape; it is well balanced and adapted for humid climates. The wool is coarse and hairy type, used for making blankets and durries. The reproductive parameters indicate that the age at first service was 295 days for ewes and 252 days for rams while the age at first lambing averaged around 425 days. Conservation efforts and genetic characterization are needed to maintain the breed purity and further studies regarding the carcass and mutton quality traits need to be carried out

Résumé

L’étude a été menée dans le but de caractériser phénotypiquement les moutons du Bengale (Desi) dans certains villages sélectionnés intentionnellement dans les districts de Nadia et Murshidabad en Bengale Occidental, Inde. Les moutons du Bengale sont élevés pour sa viande et n'ont pas été étudiés ou caractérisés. Cette étude comprend aussi bien des paramètres qualitatifs (couleur de la robe et type de queue) que quantitatifs (hauteur au garrot, hauteur à la croupe, périmètre thoracique, tour du ventre, longueur latérale du corps, longueur et largeur de la tête, longueur des oreilles, longueur des cornes, largeur des épaules, largeur des oreilles, largeur du bassin, longueur des canons, longueur des pattes avant et arrière, tour des canons antérieurs, tour et longueur du cou, poids corporel). D'après les paramètres phénotypiques, il s'agit de moutons de petite taille à queue fine adaptés au pâturage dans des zones inondées et avec une prolificité moyenne – faible. Les indices structuraux révèlent que les moutons présentent un corps nivelé, dirigé vers l'avant, de constitution robuste et forme rectangulaire. Ce sont des animaux équilibrés et adaptés aux climats humides. La laine, grossière et avec des mèches, est utilisée pour la confection de couvertures et tapis. D'après les paramètres reproductifs, l’âge à la première saillie a été de 295 jours pour les brebis et de 252 jours pour les béliers alors qu'en moyenne l’âge à la première mise bas a été d'environ 425 jours. Les efforts de conservation et de caractérisation génétique s'avèrent nécessaires pour maintenir la pureté de la race. En outre, il faudra mener, dans le futur, des études d’évaluation de la qualité de la carcasse et de la viande.

Resumen

El estudio fue llevado a cabo con el fin de caracterizar fenotípicamente el ganado ovino Bengala (Desi) en algunos pueblos seleccionados intencionadamente en los distritos de Nadia y Murshidabad en Bengala Occidental, India. El ganado ovino Bengala se cría por su carne y no ha sido estudiado o caracterizado. En este estudio se incluyeron parámetros cualitativos (color de la capa y tipo de cola) y cuantitativos (altura a la cruz, altura a la grupa, circunferencia torácica, contorno de la panza, longitud lateral del cuerpo, longitud y anchura de la cabeza, longitud de las orejas, longitud de los cuernos, anchura entre espaldas, anchura de las orejas, anchura de la pelvis, longitud de las cañas, longitud de las patas delanteras y traseras, circunferencia de las cañas delanteras, circunferencia y longitud del cuello, peso corporal). Los rasgos fenotípicos indicaron que se trata de ovejas de pequeño tamaño con cola fina adaptadas al pastoreo en áreas inundadas y con una prolificidad media-baja. Los índices estructurales muestran que las ovejas presentan un cuerpo nivelado dirigido hacia delante con constitución robusta y forma rectangular. Son animales equilibrados y adaptados a los climas húmedos. La lana, basta y con mechones, se utiliza para la confección de mantas y alfombras. De acuerdo con los parámetros reproductivos, la edad al primer servicio fue de 295 días para las ovejas y de 252 días para los carneros mientras que la edad media al primer parto rondó los 425 días. Los esfuerzos para la conservación y la caracterización genética son necesarios para mantener la pureza de la raza. Asimismo, son precisos futuros estudios que evalúen parámetros de calidad de la canal y de la carne.

Keywords

Bengal sheepmorphometrical characterizationreproductionstructural indices wool qualityWest BengalIndiamoutons du Bengalecaractérisation morphométriqueindices structurauxqualité de la lainereproductionBengale OccidentalIndeganado ovino Bengalacaracterización morfométricaíndices estructuralescalidad de la lanareproducciónBengala OccidentalIndia
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Genetic Resources/Resources génétiques animales/Recursos genéticos animales , Volume 57 , December 2015 , pp. 57 - 71
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2015 

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