5. Nellore Unit, SVVU, LRSPalamner : The overall means for body
weight at birth, three, six, nine and 12 months of age were 3.08,
10.42, 14.21, 20.32 and 25.57 kg respectively. During the year
under report in about 93 rams were sold to different farmers for
breed improvement programmeThe Nellore are a hair sheep breed found
in the northern Andhra Pradesh of India, primarly surrounding the
city of Nellore. They are a meat breed of the south India hair
type. They are found in three color varities: white (Palla) white
with black spots on face (Jodipi) and red-brown (Dora). The males
are horned and the females are naturally hornless. The mature ewes
average 30-35 kg and a height of 30-34 inches. Mature males average
40-45 kg with a height of 36-40 inches. Lamb birthweight is 2.5 - 3
kg. 3.2.3 NELLORE (Plate 25)Three varieties are distinguished,
primarily on the basis of colour: Palla, completely white or white
with light brown spots on head, neck, back and legs; Jodipi (also
called Jodimpu), white with black spots, particularly around the
lips, eyes and lower jaw, but also on belly and legs; and Dora,
completely brown. A survey of 279 sheep showed 52.7% Palla, 34.04%
Jodipi, and 13.43% Dora.a) Distribution. Nellore district and
neighbouring areas of Prakasham and Ongole districts of Andhra
Pradesh.b) Numbers. The total sheep population in the Nellore
distribution area, according to the 1972 census, was 1.813 m, and
according to the 1977 census, 1.740 m; there was thus a slight
decline. Of these, there were 0.198 m adult rams, and 0.940 m adult
ewes.c) ClimateAverageRange
Average monthly temperature (C)
minimummaximum24.434.020.028.228.739.6
Average monthly relative humidity (%)
morningevening736157844675
Annual rainfall (cm)85.17
d) Breed characteristicsi) SizeAdult maleAdult female
Body weight (kg)36.69 2.56 (13)30.00 0.27 (266)
Body length (cm)68.31 0.63 (13)67.05 0.22 (266)
Height at withers (cm)76.46 1.36 (13)72.75 0.24 (266)
Chest girth (cm)75.39 1.74 (13)72.78 0.23 (266)
ii) Conformation. Relatively tall animals with little hair
except at brisket, withers and breech. The rams are horned; the
ewes are almost always polled. The ears are long and drooping; ear
length: 15.11 0.08 cm (266). The tail is short and thin; tail
length: 10.28 0.13 cm (266). 86% of the animals carry wattles.e)
Flock structure. The average flock contains 99.3 individuals
(range: 12 to 400), of which 2.16% adult rams, 63.0% adult ewes and
34.84% young.f) Reproduction. Age at first lambing: 846 days;
lambing percentage on the basis of ewes available (2, 3): 36.72 (2
509), including of the ewes bred artificially with Suffolk and
Dorset semen. Lambing percentage in natives through natural
service: 73%. Lambing interval: 428 days. Litter size: essentially
single.g) Mortality. 0 to 3 months: 14.36% (326); 3 to 12 months:
4.29% (391); adults: 13.40% (1 313).h) Breeding. Pure breeding;
males are selected on the basis of body size.i) Performance. Meat:
body weight (kg) (source: 5)At birth2.74 0.03 (349)
At weaning11.98 0.42 (335)
6 months16.60 0.54 (198)
12 months22.72 1.00 (90)
Dressing percentage on pre-slaughter live-weight basis: 47.00
(39); feed conversion efficiency: 15.06%; age at slaughter: 6
months.TitleRemove from marked Records Growth performance of
Nellore breed of sheep in India. Back Abstract Descriptors Top
AuthorsReddy, Y. R.; Naidu, P. T.; Rao, S. T. V. JournalIndian
Journal of Small Ruminants 2009 Vol. 15 No. 1 pp. 118-120
ISSN0971-9857 Record Number20093223906AbstractNellore breed is the
tallest sheep breed of India and widely distributed in the Andhra
Pradesh. An attempt was made to study the growth performance of
Nellore sheep at various stages of growth under organized farm
conditions. Non-genetic factors significantly influenced the body
weight at birth, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age, except for effect of
season of birth on body weight at 9 months of age.Nellore
The Nellore is a meat sheep breed native to northern Andhra
Pradesh, primarily the Nellore and Prakasham districts.
The breed is found in three distinct colours- white (palla),
white with black spots on the face (jodipi) and red-brown (dora).
The males are horned and the females are polled. The birth weight
of lambs is 2.5 - 3 kg. These are relatively tall animals with
little hair except at the brisket1, withers and breech2. The ears
are long and drooping, the tail is short and thin and a majority of
the animals have wattles3. Age at first lambing is 28 months and
the lambing percentage in farmers flocks through natural service is
73%. The lambing interval is about 14 months, and the litter size
is primarily single. Breeding is pure and males are selected on the
basis of body size. Dressing percentage on pre-slaughter
live-weight basis is 47% and age at slaughter is generally six
months.
According to the 18th Livestock 2007, the number of Nellore
sheep in India is 6,216,695. (Refer to the maps below)Adult
MaleAdult Female
Average Body weight (kg)3730
Average Body length (cm)6867
Average Height at withers (cm)7673
Average Chest girth (cm)7573
References:1. The part of an animals body that extends from the
forelegs back beneath the ribs.2. The lower rear portion of the
body.3. Hair covered appendages of flesh hanging from the throat
area of sheep/ goats (reference Jennifer Stultz in the Dairy Goat
Journal).
