Sheep Breeds in Rajasthan :

There are numerous breeds of sheep live in Rajasthan. Right now more than 20 breeds of sheep live in Rajasthan. But all of those breeds are readily not available, and not suitable for commercial production purpose. Sheep are contributing much to the state economy and they are used for producing clothing, carpet and mutton. However, here  are describing about the available sheep breeds in Rajasthan :

1. Chokla Sheep :
Other names-  Chhaper, Shekhawati and Raata Munda.
Location- Nagaur, Sikar, Churu
Breeding Tract - A limited area at the juncture of Churu, Nagaur, and Sikar districts.
Main Use -  Wool, Meat
Origin- The name Shekhawati and Chhappar are derived from the name of its distribution area whereas Raata munda stands for dark brown coloured face.

Colour - The coat colour is white. The face colour is dark brown (Raata Munda), and the colour may extend upto middle of neck.

Characteristics - Light to medium sized animals, face is generally devoid of wool. Ears are small to medium in length (9-11cm) and tubular. Coat is dense and relatively fine. Chokla breed has the unique characteristics of fine carpet quality fleece production and survival on scarce fodder resources under field conditions during drought – a regular feature of physical environment of Chokla breeding tract. 

2. Jaisalmeri Sheep -

Breeding Tract -  District Barmer, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, JodhpurMain Use - Wool; Meat

Colour - Face is black or dark brown, the colour extends up to the neck.

Visible Characteristics -  The animals are fairly well built and tall. Legs are long. Head is big with typical Roman nose. Long drooping ears, generally with a cartilaginous appendage.
 

3. Magra Sheep -

 Other names -Magreti, Bikaneri Chokhla, Raata chakriya, Chakri, Boochie kan and Desi.

Breeding Tract -  Banswara, Chittorgarh, Dungarpur, Udaipur

Main Use- Fibre - Wool; Food - Meat

Colour-  White. Face is white with brown patches around the eyes. Skin colour is pink.

Visible Characteristics - Ears are stumpy or small and tubular. Fleece is of medium carpet quality, extremely white and lustrous and not very dense.

4. Malpura Sheep -
Breeding Tract -  Ajmer, Jaipur, Tonk
Main Use -  Wool; Meat. Wool is extremely coarse and used for making felts and coarse carpets. Ewes yield good quantity of milk (400 g) and farmers milk them when the lambs are weaned after 2-3 months of age.

Origin-  The name is derived from the home tract -Malpura taluka.

Face- colour is light brown extending up to the neck. Fleece is white.

Visible Characteristics - Nose is typically roman. Ears are short and tubular with a small cartilaginous appendage. Fleece is extremely coarse hairy and open. Belly and legs are devoid of wool.

Any Peculiarity of the breed- Malpura is an excellent mutton breed of northwestern semiarid region of India.
 

5.  Marwari Sheep -

Breeding Tract -  Ajmer, Barmer, Jalore, Jodhpur, Nagaur, Pali

Main Use -Wool; Meat

Adaptability to Environment- Marwari Sheep are quite hardy and adaptable to arid climate. They can walk long distances for gazing.

Colour -  Face is typically black and the colour extends up to lower part of neck. Fleece is white.
Visible Characteristics - Ears are tubular and extremely small in size. Nose is straight, flat and tapering. Fleece is white and not very dense.

Management Conditions-  Flocks of Marwari sheep go on migration for a period of six months.
 

6. Nali Sheep -
Breeding Tract - Hisar (Haryana), Ganganagar, Jhunjhunu, Churu

Main Use -  Wool; Meat

Origin- It derives its name from the area (Nali) in Ganganagar and Hanumangarh districts of Rajasthan in which surplus waters of river Ghaggar flow during the monsoon rains.
Colour- White. Face is light brown which may extend to the neck. 

Visible Characteristics - Ears are large and leafy. Fleece is white, coarse, dense and long stapled. Forehead, belly and legs are covered with wool.
Management Conditions- Flocks are stationary but may be migrate in peak summer in search of grazing land. Nali sheep are accustomed to night grazing and stubble grazing.
 

7. Pugal Sheep - Other names Rataanaa

Breeding Tract- The true to the breed animals are found in Khajuwala, Tanwarwala, Jaggasar, Mansar, Sinduka and Ranasar area of Bikaner district.

Main Use -  Wool; Meat
Origin - Breed is known after the name of its home tract i.e. Pugal area of Bikaner district.
Colour- Fleece colour varies from white to light brown. Face is black with small light brown strips on either side above the eyes. Lower jaw is typically light brown.

Visible Characteristics- Ears are short and tubular. White fleece of medium carpet quality and not very dense.

Management Conditions - Most flocks are stationery. In summer, the flocks move to south-eastern parts of Rajasthan. Grazing during night in summer months is common.
 

8. Sonadi Sheep - 

Other Name : Desi, Laapdi, Bhagli.

Breeding Tract-  Banswara, Chittorgarh, Dungarpur, Udaipur

Main Use - Wool; Meat
Origin- The name Sonadi means one with golden fibres. Desi means indigenous that is native to the local area, laapdi means long and flat eared and Bhagli means the lucky one as it contributes to the livelihood of the sheep farmers.

Colour- The face colour is light brown or white. Body is covered with white, open and coarse fleece. Face, belly and legs are devoid of wool. 

Visible Characteristics - Ears are long (16-17cm), flat and drooping. White fleece, exteremely coarse and hairy. Belly and legs are devoid of wool.

Management Conditions- Local migration in summer in search of water and feed.

Magra sheep is very popular and highly available sheep breed in the Bikander district of northwestern region of India. Only Bikander district has more than 300,000 Magra sheep. This sheep breed produce high quality and extremely white wool, and their wool is used primarily for fine carpet production. Magra ewes can’t be bred until their 18 months of age and each ewe produce only one kid per lambing. Another sheep breed named ‘Chokla’ sheep is also available in the region. They have dense coats and hairless faces. Along with these two breeds there are many sheep breeds available in the northwestern region of India. Sonadi, Kher, Jalauni, Jaisalmeri, Pugal, Marwari, Malpura etc. are important sheep breeds in this region. All of these breeds are suitable and used for both carpet wool and mutton production.