Small Ruminants Production

Production Systems
 Sheep and Goat Production
Systems
 There are a number of systems for sheep
and goats raising in Pakistan.
 These include nomadic, transhumant and
sedentary flocks and households with a
few sheep and goats
 Feedlot Fattening
 Nomadic and transhumant
 Nomadic flocks are constantly moving in
search of grazing, whereas transhumant
flocks have a fixed base to which they
return in winter of each year.
 Grazing available to both types is usually
set by tribal customs.
 There are well-established migration routes
usually based on water availability and
grazing land.
 Nomads usually have more than 100 heads
with an average of 20% goats.
 Transhumant
In transhumant flocks the size may be smaller but
contain a higher percentage of goats.
Most lambs and kids are born during early spring
when the flocks are at lower elevations.
All female progeny are kept for flock replacement or
build-up, but nearly all males are sold before one year.
About 90% of feed for nomadic flocks is derived
from rangelands, which is generally free.
Transhumant flocks have access to grazing of crop
stubbles in their permanent bases, thus making feed
supply more reliable.
Some sheep and goats are milked for subsistence
needs
 Sedentary
 Sedentary flocks and herds consist of about 20
animals of which 70% are goats.
 They derive most of their feed from grazing
wasteland, crop stubbles and nearby
rangelands, and return to the village each night.
 Grazing animals are guarded making labour
requirements high.
 Performance is similar to transhumant flocks,
and milk production is more important because
of the higher percentage of goats.
 Female offsprings are kept as replacements
and all males are sold at the age of 4 to 12
months
 Household
 Small units, of about five animals, are kept
by many rural householders.
 They are kept confined near the house and
fed on scraps and weeds.
 Milk is for household consumption.
 Although some off-springs are sold, most
are kept for family consumption,
especially for ceremonial sacrifice
 Sheep and Goats Farming
 Situation of sheep and goat breeds being
kept at experimental farms is not very
encouraging.
 Assuming that the number of sheep
breeds is 28 and that of goats is 25
(Hasnain, 1985), none of the seven sheep
breeds of Northern areas have been
studied at any experiment station/nucleus
flock.
 Kail of AJK is found at one station only.
 Continued
• Out of 28 sheep breeds, the 21 found in the
four provinces, out of which,only 13 (Balkhi,
Balochi, Bivarikh, Buchi, Hernai, Kachhi,
Kaghani, Kajli, Karakul, Lohi, Salt Range, Sipli
and Thalli) are raised on the experiment
stations.
• Among the 25 indigenous goat breeds, only
six (Beetal, Dera Din Pannah, Hairy(white
colored Fort Manro), Kamori, Nachi and
Teddy) are raised at research stations.
• Beetal, Kamori and Teddy are present on
more than one stations while none of the
breeds belonging to Northern areas and AJK
has a nucleus flock / research station.
Among the exotic breeds of sheep include Afghani, Awassi,
Karakul, Rambouillet.
Five new breeds of sheep
Baghdale=Three way crossB/WDamanix Hissardale and
Rambouillet
Hissardale=Cross between Merino and Bikaniri
Pak-Awassi=Lohi x Awassi,
Pak-Karakul=Kachhi x Karakul,
Ramghani= Kaghani x Rambouillet,
Murat=Salt Range x Afghani
and one breed of goat
Pak-Angora=Hairy goat x Angora have also been developed in
the past and many are likely to emerge in future.
 However, their sustainability as breeds is doubtful because of
economic and technical problems.
Semen from none of the sheep or goat breeds is
cryopreserved because Artificial Insemination is not practized
and all the sheep (except experimental AI in Lohi breed) and
goats are bred naturally.