Kilakarsal sheep breed needs to be conserved
Sheep rearing is an important livelihood for small and marginal farmers especially in areas which are drought prone and lack irrigation facilities.
Tamil Nadu is home to about eight recognised breeds of sheep and most of them are raised for meat production.
Kilakarasal, which is also known as Keezakaraisal, Karuvai, Keezhakaruvai, Ramnad Karuvai and Adikaraisal is one of the recognized sheep breeds of South Tamil Nadu.
The breeding tract of Kilakarasal sheep is believed to be in Ramanathapuram, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli and some parts of Tuticorin districts.
Body weight
The breed has dark tan coat with black colouration. Rams have well developed twisted horns. However, the ewes (females) are polled. Adult rams weigh about 30 kg whereas the female is 20 kg.
Traditionally, the sheep was mostly maintained as migratory flocks. In a field survey conducted recently in the breeding tract, not even a single Kilakarsal flock having a purebred ram could be identified.
Only a few ewes, resembling Kilakarasal phenotypically could be found in the farmer’s flocks.
And the genetic purity of those animals could not be ascertained. Nevertheless, purebred Kilakarasal sheep units are maintained at District Livestock Farm, Chettinad in Sivaganga district and Government Sheep Farm, Satur in Virudhunagar district.
Conservation project
Under a project on in-situ conservation of Kilakarsal sheep breed, a nucleus flock of Kilakarsal sheep has been established at the Veterinary University Training and Research Centre in Tirunelveli in collaboration with Indian Council of Agriculture and Research (ICAR).
The role of the farmers is crucial for re-establishing the breed characteristics in the breeding tract by using only purebred rams for breeding in their flocks.
The breed has certain distinct characteristics. It is a medium sized breed, so the management of the flock in terms of housing, feeding and health cover may be economical.
Suited for dry lands
It is hardy, heat tolerant and has the capacity to utilize coarse feed materials efficiently, traits which are beneficial in drought prone areas.
This sheep breed also has the capacity to cover long distances in search of pasture for grazing.
