SHEEP BREEDING RESEARCH STATION, SANDYNALLAH
The Sheep Breeding Research Station, Sandynallah of the Nilagiri district was established during the year 1950-51. It has a land area of 708.67 acres, of which about 500 acres is maintained as natural grasslands. The entire area consists of rolling hills with an average elevation of 2230 metres above mean sea level. The annual rainfall ranges from 800 to 3000 mm.
This research station in its fifty years of existence had two different mandates implemented in two phases. In the first phase (1950-72), the mandate was to improve the meat characteristics of Nilagiri sheep through crossbreeding with exotic dual-purpose sheep breeds. In the second phase (1973–90), the mandate was to improve the wool yield and quality of Nilagiri sheep by crossbreeding with Merino and Rambouillet sheep.
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- To maintain, conserve and propagate Nilagiri and Sandyno breeds of sheep and to improve their performance by intensive selection methods.
- To develop a suitable mutton synthetic using Dorset and Nilagiri breeds.
- To conduct on-farm research on problems of livestock farmers.
- To conduct studies on nutrition, management and husbandry aspects of sheep and small livestock such as rabbit and geese and to produce seed stock for distribution to the needy farmers.
- To serve as an extension education centre to impart training on sheep and rabbit rearing.
- To impart farm training to UG students and to provide research facilities to PG students of the University
New Breed Development
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Two decades of intensive research in this station has resulted in the development of a fine wool breed of sheep named Sandyno. Sandyno breed was developed by crossing Nilagiri sheep with Merino and Rambouillet. The breed has ¾ inheritance from Nilagiri and 5/8 inheritance from Merino / Rambouillet breeds. The breed has been field tested and found to adapt well to the local climatic and environmental conditions. The Sandyno sheep grow to a body weight of 24 kg in males and 20 kg in females at yearling stage. The average wool yield is 2.2 kg. A flock of 320 sheep of Sandyno breed is maintained at this farm.
- Nilagiri sheep is a fine wool breed of sheep yielding 1.00 kg of wool per annum. The yearling body weight is 21 kg in males and 18 kg in females. A flock of 150 pure bred Nilagiri sheep is maintained at this station.
- This research station serves as a nodal centre for conservation of Nilagiri sheep and Toda buffaloes.
A scheme on “In-situ conservation of Toda buffalo and Nilagiri sheep” sponsored by Indian Council of Agricultural Research / National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources is presently under operation.
Under the scheme 50 elite ewes of Nilagiri ewes were selected from the farmers holding to produce elite males to be used for breeding purpose in the tract. To encourage the sheep breeders, a part of the maintenance cost of the ewes at Rs.500 per ewe and a maintenance cost of rams at Rs.1500 per ram is given to the farmers. The Nilagiri sheep with its present population of about 3000 is an endangered species.
Toda buffalo of the Nilagiri district has become an endangered species. Breeding males are not available in many of the herds. To overcome this problem, 18 numbers of Toda buffalo bulls were raised successfully in this farm, and are now ready for distribution to the farmers.
As per a survey undertaken by this station during May 1994, the total population of Toda buffaloes was found to be around 3300. The mean daily milk yield was 2.53 kg. The mean lactation length and estimated lactation yield were 198.25 days and 603 kg respectively. The fat, protein and total solids in milk were 8.28, 4.29 and 16.06 per cent respectively. The breed is closely associated with the cultural and social activities of the Toda tribes.
Presently, the Nilagiri and Sandyno breeds of sheep are under the breed improvement scheme of this station by intense selection procedures. Improved breeding of rams and ewes of the above breeds are being supplied to the sheep breeders of the Nilgiris and adjacent districts. The breeds also have wide acceptance in hilly areas of Karnataka state.
In addition to sheep, this station also maintains rabbits of New Zealand White, White Giant and Soviet Chinchilla breeds. The breeds are under evaluation for growth, reproduction and litter traits. Of the three breeds compared, New Zealand white rabbits were found to excel in growth as well as reproductive traits. |
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An instructional unit on geese was also started recently. The birds are studied for their growth and egg production characteristics. |
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During the last five years, a large number of breeding stocks of sheep, rabbit and geese were supplied to the farmers and their details are furnished:
Year |
Sheep |
Rabbit |
Geese |
1998-99 |
340 |
155 |
6 |
1999-00 |
196 |
233 |
32 |
2000-01 |
329 |
249 |
65 |
2001-02 |
256 |
171 |
41 |
2002-03 |
275 |
194 |
50 |
Total |
1396 |
1002 |
194 |
Species |
Age group |
Sale Price |
|
Male |
Female |
||
Sheep |
All |
Rs.50 per kg body weight |
Rs.40 per kg body weight |
Rabbit |
Up to 135 days |
Rs.120 per animal |
Rs.120 per animal |
Rabbit |
Above 135 days |
Rs.170 per animal |
Rs.170 per animal |
Goose |
All |
Rs.80 per bird |
Rs.80 per bird |
This Research station is involved in research on temperate fodder crops and trees.
- Frost tolerant temperate grasses like Dactylls, Phalaris sp., Italian and perennial rye were introduced and evaluated.
- Leguminous fodders like clover, berseem, lucerne were evaluated.
- Tree fodders suitable for feeding in this region were identified and evaluated.
- Agro forestry models for this hilly district were established.
- Acacia melanoxylan + kikiyu grass
- Tree lucerne + kikiyu grass
- Tree lucerne + phalaris.
- ICAR / NBAGR scheme on “in-situ conservation of Toda buffalo and Nilagiri Sheep”
- Plan scheme on “NARP – Hill and Tribal Zone – strengthening of Sheep Breeding Research Station, Sandynallah.
- Tamil Nadu State Land Use Board Scheme on “Establishment of Model Fodder Farms through VUTRC’s”.
Dr. M.Iyue, Professor and Head
Dr. R.Anilkumar, Associate Professor
Dr. R.Venkataraman, Assistant Professor
Dr. A.Kirubakaran, Assistant Professor
Dr. S.Balakrishnan, Assistant Professor
Dr. Ve.Dhanarajan, Assistant Professor