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Our Bureau

Hyderabad, Nov. 9 Sheep breeders of Anantapur, one of the most backward districts in the country, will get a shot in the arm with the Andhra Pradesh Government planning to launch a Dorper Crossbred sheep pilot project in the drought-stricken district at an estimated cost of Rs 1.7 crore.

Dorper, a South African sheep breed imported from Australia, will give high returns for the farmers. A six-month-old lamb weighs 25 kg and carries a market value of Rs 2,000 as against the regular sheep that weighed just 15 kg, costing Rs 1,095.

The farmers need not worry on the suitability of the breed for the drought-like conditions in the district. The robust sheep breed can withstand harshest weather conditions. Besides, it is a non-selective grazer.

The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, has asked Animal Husbandry officials to look into the proposal seriously and start the pilot project with an initial animal size of 15,000.

While discussing a proposal to set up a much larger project with 1.5 lakh Dorper Crossbred sheep, the Chief Minister felt that it would be sensible to start off with a pilot project, taking up 10 per cent of the proposed 1.5 lakh sheep.

The original proposal, which would have cost Rs 17 crore, was sought to procure the lambs, feed them for six months with insurance component covered. “The superior breed would help improve the lot of farmers in one of the most backward districts in the country,” he said.

The move to import the Dorper breed followed recommendations by a high-level technical committee headed by Mr N. Ramakrishna Reddy, Special Secretary to Government.

The pilot project is expected to take 23 months, during which the new breed sheep will show the results.

Interestingly, the Dorper breed, which was domesticated in Western Australia, has been successfully bred in Anantapur district under an Indo-Australian collaborative project with the involvement of Asad Farms of Mr G.S. Mansoor in Anantapur district.

The district offered climatic conditions and grazing area and feed similar to Western Australia or the original home of the Dorper in Africa.

More Stories on : Animals & Livestock | Andhra Pradesh

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