Common Breeds of Sheep in Pakistan

 INTRODUCTION

• Sheep (Ovis aries) are quadrupedal, ruminant mammals typically kept as livestock.
• Like all ruminants, sheep are members of the order Artiodactyla, the even-toed ungulates.
• Although the name "sheep" applies to many species, in everyday usage it almost always refers to Ovis aries.
• Numbering a little over 1 billion, domestic sheep are the most numerous species in their genus.

WHAT IS RAM AND EWE?

·        RAM is uncasterated male sheep.

(Uncasterated:  whose testicles are not removed.)

·        EWE is female sheep

SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION OF SHEEP

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Artiodactyla
Family:	Bovidae
Subfamily:	Caprinae
Genus:	Ovis
Species:	O. aries

 

There are several different ways to categorize sheep breeds. Although there may be considerable overlaps between categories, these include:

·        Commercial Use

·        Production Purpose

·        Dairy Breeds

CLASSIFICATION ON BASIS OF PHYSICAL TRAITS

ON BASIS OF TAIL

·        Thin tailed

·        Thick tailed (/Fat tailed)

ON THE BASIS OF WOOL OR COAT TYPE

·        Fine wooled breeds

·        Medium wooled breeds

·        Long or coarse wooled breeds

·        Crossbred wool

WHAT IS A BREED?

• A breed is a group of domestic animals or plants with a homogeneous appearance, behavior, and other characteristics that distinguish it from other animals of the same species.
• When bred together, animals of the same breed pass on these uniform traits to their offspring, and this ability—known as "breeding true"—is a definitive requirement for a breed.

COMMON SHEEP BREEDS IN PAKISTAN

• 28.1 million sheeps with 27 breeds are common in Pakistan.

Important Sheep Breeds of Pakistan are:

1	Bakkarwal	10	Hashtnagri	19	Poonchi
2	Balkhi	11	Kacchi	20	Pahari
3	Bibrik	12	Kail	21	Michni
4	Baluchi	13	Kaghani	22	Rakhshani
5	Cholistani	14	Kali	23	Salt Range
6	Damani	15	Kajli	24	Sipli
7	Dumbi	16	Kooka	25	Tirahi
8	Gojal	17	Kohai Ghizer	26	Thalli
9	Harnai	18	Lohi	27	Waziri