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Vembur Sheep Profile:
This article explains about Vembur sheep information.
Distribution: This sheep breed, also called Karandhai, is native to the Vembur village of the Pudur Taluk in Thootikudi district of Tamil Nadu.This breed of sheep is basically a mutton breed which is adapted to semi arid habitat and distributed in and around Thoothukudi, Virudhunagar and Tirunelveli districts of Tamilnadu
Vembur Sheep Breed Features: They are tall animals, white in colour with irregular fawn and black patches all over the body. The ears are medium-sized and drooping and the tail is thin and short. While the males are horned, the ewes are polled. The body is covered with short hair which is not shorn. In farmers’ flocks lambing percentage is 80 and the litter size is single. Breeding is generally done on the basis of selection from within the flock.
According to the 18th Livestock Census of 2007 there are 235,287 Vembur sheep in the country.
Flock structure: The average flock contains 29.6 individuals (range: 8 to 200), of which 1.3 rams, 21.7 ewes and 6.6 young.
Reproduction: In farmers’ flocks: lambing percentage: 80%; litter size: single. Under farm conditions: lambing percentage on the basis of ewes available: 71.61% (162).
Mortality: In farmers’ flocks: young: 10 to 15%; adults: 10%. Under farm conditions: 0 to 3 months: 12.93%; 3 to 12 months: 18.81%; adults: 13.22%. Mortality of sheep depends in many factors and it varies depends season as well.
Breeding: Pure breeding. Rams are selected on body size.
Vembur Sheep Breed Weight/Height Chart:
| Adult Male | Adult Female | |
|---|---|---|
| Average Body weight (kg) | 34 | 28 |
| Average Body length (cm) | 69 | 64 |
| Height at withers (cm) | 77 | 73 |
| Chest girth (cm) | 82 | 73 |