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Develops new sheep breed to produce and rear twin lambs through genetic improvement
The Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) has developed the NARI Suwarna strain of Deccani sheep with the ability to produce and rear twin lambs. NARI Suwarna ewes are capable of producing and raising twin lambs to a weaning weight of 13-15 kg each (total weaning weight 26 kg) in 3-4 months, with a little supplementary feeding. Institute has also developed a strain of sheep ‘NARI composite’ similar to NARI Suwarna which has some proportion of the Awassi breed from Israel. Awassi is also a large size breed and faster growing than Deccani. Therefore NARI composite also grow faster.
Dr. Chanda Nimbkar
Dr. Chanda Nimbkar, Director, Animal Husbandry Division, NARI says, “We need more production of sheep to fulfills the protein requirements. To do so we have developed the new breeds that has 30-50% higher lamb production and is adapted to the conditions under which shepherds on the Deccan plateau rear their sheep.” NARI Suwarna sheep helps farmer to increase flock size quicker as on an average 16-17 lambs are born per 10 NARI Suwarna ewes. Dr. Nimbkar shares more details on the breeding new sheep variety, feeding, cost and future plans. Excerpts:
It was my father, Mr. B. V. Nimbkar’s idea to develop a new breed of sheep that could deliver twin lambs because he wanted to help the under-privileged people in rural India who are dependent on these livestock for their livelihood. Moreover, in India the main product of sheep rearing is meat and not wool! Thus in 1988 we decided to develop a new breed of sheep that could deliver twin lambs to make it more profitable for the farmers.
On research we found that there was a strain of Merino sheep called Booroola Merinoa in Australia that had the ability to have multiple lambs at a lambing but not this prolificacy characteristic had come from sheep breed in another country. Further study revealed that its origin was Bengal sheep also called as Garole breed from West Bengal, India. Further study revealed that its origin was Bengal sheep also called as Garole breed from West Bengal, India. However, we were not able to find much detail on this breed. Luckily in 1992, while attending the All India Goat Conference, New Delhi we saw a presentation that mentioned about Garole breed sheep found in Sundarban, West Bengal. We visited the mentioned place and got a ram and ewe. We then discussed and decided to cross breed Garole with our local breed Deccani.
NARI Suwarna breed was developed through breeding of three sheep breed, 60% Deccani, 30% Madgyal and 10% Garole. Our people wanted the sheep to look like the local breed so the major portion was retained of Deccani. We then selected Madgyal for its good physical characteristics and faster growing ability. Finally Garole was included for its capability to produce twin or triplet lambs. We started the breeding process in 1998 and could develop NARI Suwarna breed for the commercial sale by 2008.
NARI Suwarna ewes have the ability to give twin lambs because of the FecB gene (twinning gene) that they carry. Some NARI Suwarna sheep carry one copy (heterozygous) while some carry two copies (homozygous) of this gene.
All lambs born to NARI Suwarna ewes or rams having two copies of this gene will inherit this gene which means they will have the twinning characteristic. (while half of the lambs born to NARI Suwarna ewes/rams having a single copy of this gene will inherit the gene). It can be crossed with local sheep found in different parts of the country. It adapts well to the harsh conditions too but with supplementary feeding during pregnancy and after lambing.
With good feeding the weights of twin-born lambs are similar to those of single lambs. That is why NARI Suwarna sheep wean about 1.5 times as much weight of lamb as Deccani sheep. At our farm NARI Suwarna twin ewes of one year age achieve a weighing of 20 kg each. These weights can be achieved when (a) the ewes are given good feeding from 2 months before lambing until weaning of lambs if it is carrying twin lambs; (b) ewes and lambs are managed properly; (c) lambs are given green lush high protein green fodder such as lucerne or subabhul as soon as they start eating; (d) lambs are given supplementary feeding (half of this can be maize grain and half a pelleted concentrate) – starting from 50 gm per day at 1 month age to 200 gm per day after weaning at 3 months to 300 gm per day after 6 months up to 1.5 years age for ewe lambs retained for breeding. Shepherd needs to ensure good care of the twin lambs.
We also developed NARI composite sheep breed from Israel origin Awassi breed. It is a dairy sheep yielding high milk. We crossbreed it with NARI Suwarna sheep. As a result NARI composite yields good milk and weighs between 35-42 kg. It also delivers twins and triplets.
Best feature of this genetic improvement is that once a farmer has got any of the two NARI breed in his flock and cross breed their local breeds then the gene transfer ensure the female lamb has the ability to carry twins or triplets. It then continues for the generations together. Further, on a special kind of paper, farmers can send us one drop of blood sample of the lamb and mail it to us. We then test it and confirm the farmer if that female lamb has the gene to produce twin or not. We sell NARI Suwarna and NARI Composite at discounted price to the shepherd. We are consistently trying to improve the sheep and goat breeds for the farmers. Soon we will be introducing yet another breed of sheep that will be heavier in the weight.
Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), Animal Husbandry Division is engaged in projects for genetic improvement of local goats and sheep. NARI is a non-governmental organisation and non-profit research and development institute in Phaltan, Maharashtra, India. The institute undertakes R&D in the fields of agriculture, renewable energy, animal husbandry and sustainable development. The institute was founded in 1968 by Shri B. V. Nimbkar. His daughter, Dr. Chanda Nimkbar has a Ph.D. in ‘Farm animal breeding and genetics’ from the University of New England, Australia. She has served as board member in NGOs and private companies, including the Maharashtra Goat and Sheep Research and Development Institute, and as a member of the research advisory committee of the ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources and the Taskforce on Animal Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India. She is currently a Board member of the International Livestock Research Institute, a CGIAR institute.
(As told to Shweta Dhanuka)
Contact details:
Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute (NARI)
Animal Husbandry Division
Tambmal, Phaltan-Lonand Road, MH SH 70, Phaltan, Maharashtra 415523
Phone: (91)-2166-220945, (91)-2166-222396 or (91)-2166-222842.
Email: nariphaltan@gmail.com
Web: http://nariphaltan.org/
The Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) has developed the NARI Suwarna strain of Deccani sheep with the ability to produce and rear twin lambs. NARI Suwarna ewes are capable of producing and raising twin lambs to a weaning weight of 13-15 kg each (total weaning weight 26 kg) in 3-4 months, with a little supplementary feeding. Institute has also developed a strain of sheep ‘NARI composite’ similar to NARI Suwarna which has some proportion of the Awassi breed from Israel. Awassi is also a large size breed and faster growing than Deccani. Therefore NARI composite also grow faster.
Dr. Chanda Nimbkar
Dr. Chanda Nimbkar, Director, Animal Husbandry Division, NARI says, “We need more production of sheep to fulfills the protein requirements. To do so we have developed the new breeds that has 30-50% higher lamb production and is adapted to the conditions under which shepherds on the Deccan plateau rear their sheep.” NARI Suwarna sheep helps farmer to increase flock size quicker as on an average 16-17 lambs are born per 10 NARI Suwarna ewes. Dr. Nimbkar shares more details on the breeding new sheep variety, feeding, cost and future plans. Excerpts:
It was my father, Mr. B. V. Nimbkar’s idea to develop a new breed of sheep that could deliver twin lambs because he wanted to help the under-privileged people in rural India who are dependent on these livestock for their livelihood. Moreover, in India the main product of sheep rearing is meat and not wool! Thus in 1988 we decided to develop a new breed of sheep that could deliver twin lambs to make it more profitable for the farmers.
On research we found that there was a strain of Merino sheep called Booroola Merinoa in Australia that had the ability to have multiple lambs at a lambing but not this prolificacy characteristic had come from sheep breed in another country. Further study revealed that its origin was Bengal sheep also called as Garole breed from West Bengal, India. Further study revealed that its origin was Bengal sheep also called as Garole breed from West Bengal, India. However, we were not able to find much detail on this breed. Luckily in 1992, while attending the All India Goat Conference, New Delhi we saw a presentation that mentioned about Garole breed sheep found in Sundarban, West Bengal. We visited the mentioned place and got a ram and ewe. We then discussed and decided to cross breed Garole with our local breed Deccani.
NARI Suwarna breed was developed through breeding of three sheep breed, 60% Deccani, 30% Madgyal and 10% Garole. Our people wanted the sheep to look like the local breed so the major portion was retained of Deccani. We then selected Madgyal for its good physical characteristics and faster growing ability. Finally Garole was included for its capability to produce twin or triplet lambs. We started the breeding process in 1998 and could develop NARI Suwarna breed for the commercial sale by 2008.
NARI Suwarna ewes have the ability to give twin lambs because of the FecB gene (twinning gene) that they carry. Some NARI Suwarna sheep carry one copy (heterozygous) while some carry two copies (homozygous) of this gene.
All lambs born to NARI Suwarna ewes or rams having two copies of this gene will inherit this gene which means they will have the twinning characteristic. (while half of the lambs born to NARI Suwarna ewes/rams having a single copy of this gene will inherit the gene). It can be crossed with local sheep found in different parts of the country. It adapts well to the harsh conditions too but with supplementary feeding during pregnancy and after lambing.
With good feeding the weights of twin-born lambs are similar to those of single lambs. That is why NARI Suwarna sheep wean about 1.5 times as much weight of lamb as Deccani sheep. At our farm NARI Suwarna twin ewes of one year age achieve a weighing of 20 kg each. These weights can be achieved when (a) the ewes are given good feeding from 2 months before lambing until weaning of lambs if it is carrying twin lambs; (b) ewes and lambs are managed properly; (c) lambs are given green lush high protein green fodder such as lucerne or subabhul as soon as they start eating; (d) lambs are given supplementary feeding (half of this can be maize grain and half a pelleted concentrate) – starting from 50 gm per day at 1 month age to 200 gm per day after weaning at 3 months to 300 gm per day after 6 months up to 1.5 years age for ewe lambs retained for breeding. Shepherd needs to ensure good care of the twin lambs.
We also developed NARI composite sheep breed from Israel origin Awassi breed. It is a dairy sheep yielding high milk. We crossbreed it with NARI Suwarna sheep. As a result NARI composite yields good milk and weighs between 35-42 kg. It also delivers twins and triplets.
Best feature of this genetic improvement is that once a farmer has got any of the two NARI breed in his flock and cross breed their local breeds then the gene transfer ensure the female lamb has the ability to carry twins or triplets. It then continues for the generations together. Further, on a special kind of paper, farmers can send us one drop of blood sample of the lamb and mail it to us. We then test it and confirm the farmer if that female lamb has the gene to produce twin or not. We sell NARI Suwarna and NARI Composite at discounted price to the shepherd. We are consistently trying to improve the sheep and goat breeds for the farmers. Soon we will be introducing yet another breed of sheep that will be heavier in the weight.
Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), Animal Husbandry Division is engaged in projects for genetic improvement of local goats and sheep. NARI is a non-governmental organisation and non-profit research and development institute in Phaltan, Maharashtra, India. The institute undertakes R&D in the fields of agriculture, renewable energy, animal husbandry and sustainable development. The institute was founded in 1968 by Shri B. V. Nimbkar. His daughter, Dr. Chanda Nimkbar has a Ph.D. in ‘Farm animal breeding and genetics’ from the University of New England, Australia. She has served as board member in NGOs and private companies, including the Maharashtra Goat and Sheep Research and Development Institute, and as a member of the research advisory committee of the ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources and the Taskforce on Animal Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India. She is currently a Board member of the International Livestock Research Institute, a CGIAR institute.
(As told to Shweta Dhanuka)
Contact details:
Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute (NARI)
Animal Husbandry Division
Tambmal, Phaltan-Lonand Road, MH SH 70, Phaltan, Maharashtra 415523
Phone: (91)-2166-220945, (91)-2166-222396 or (91)-2166-222842.
Email: nariphaltan@gmail.com
Web: http://nariphaltan.org/
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