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The Muzaffarnagari sheep, a mutton breed in India

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2011

A. Mandal ,
L.B. Singh  and
P.K. Rout
A. Mandal
Affiliation:
Genetics and Breeding Division, Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Farah, Mathura, 281 122, U. P, India E-mail: ajoy@cirg.up.nic.in
L.B. Singh
Affiliation:
Genetics and Breeding Division, Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Farah, Mathura, 281 122, U. P, India E-mail: ajoy@cirg.up.nic.in
P.K. Rout
Affiliation:
Genetics and Breeding Division, Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Farah, Mathura, 281 122, U. P, India E-mail: ajoy@cirg.up.nic.in
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Summary

The Muzaffarnagari is the largest and heaviest sheep breed of India. It is well adapted to the hot humid irrigated regions. This breed is generally found in the Muzaffarnagari, Bulandshahr, Saharanpur, Meerut, Bijnor and Dehradun districts of Uttar Pradesh and in some parts of Delhi and Haryana. The fast body growth coupled with high feed conversion efficiency are the main characteristics of this breed. The animals are medium to large in size, having slight convex face lines. The coat is generally white and dense but relatively coarse and the head is large with long and drooping ears. Both male and females are polled. The tail is very long and extends to the fetlock joint. The average body weights at birth, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age were 3.49±0.04, 15±0.20, 26.5±3.56, 30.4&0.40 and 33.4±0.46 kg, respectively.

Resumen

La raza Muzaffarnagari es la raza ovina más importante y de mayor peso en la India. Está bien adaptada a las regiones húmedas y cálidas con riego. Esta raza se encuentra en general en los distritos de Muzaffarnagari, Bulandshahr, Saharanpur, Meerut, Bijnor y Dehradun de la zona de Uttar Pradesh, así como en algunos lugares de Delhi y Haryana. El crecimiento corporal veloz unido al eficaz nivel de conversión alimentaria, son las características más sobresalientes de esta raza. Los animales son de tamaño medio grande y presentan líneas faciales ligeramente convexas. El manto is generalmente blancoy denso pero relativamente basto y la cabeza es ancha con orejas largas y caídas. Tanto el macho como la hembra no tienen cuernos. La cola es muy larga y se extiende hasta el menudillo. La media del peso al nacimiento a 3, 6, 9 y 12 meses es, respectivamente, 3,49±0,04, 15±0,20, 26,5±3,56, 30,4±0,40 y 33,4±0,46.

Keywords

Muzaffarnagari sheepProduction characteristicsConservationCharacterizationBody measurements.
Type
Research Articles
Information
Animal Genetic Resources/Resources génétiques animales/Recursos genéticos animales , Volume 28 , April 2000 , pp. 19 - 25
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2000

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