It's a story of missed opportunity for Andhra Pradesh and sheep farmers.

In a pioneering effort using embryo transfer technology, a cross bred of a popular western Australian sheep breed, Dorper, was produced in Andhra Pradesh in 2006-07.

But, lack of support from the State and problems of ‘genetic deficiency', pushed the project onto the back burner.

Asad Farms run by Mr G.S. Mansoor, an entrepreneur from Anantapur district had imported frozen embryos from the Australian company — Kaya Dorper genetics.

With support from Austrade, the commercial and trade arm of Australia in India and Australian supervisors the local ewe called Nellore Zodpi was implanted with the embryos.

After the initial success, the offspring (lambs) born turned out to be dwarfs. There was no definite explanation forthcoming for this result. This happened perhaps due to a genetic deficiency. The next step was to try artificial insemination.

A project report was sent to the State Government to get financial support. Similarly, a proposal was also made to get funding from the National Agricultural Innovation Project. But, the project got neither State Government funds nor support from NAIP.

While, the project was facing problems in Andhra Pradesh, enthusiastic officials from Jammu & Kashmir, who came to study the possibility of introducing the breed back home, who were excited by the initial successes in Anantapur wanted it to be replicated.

J&K is known for its sheep farming. On the request of the Government of J&K, experiments were done and the cross bred was introduced there.

The meat of the Dorper sheep meets a good percentage of the global market. The average weight of an Ewe is 80-100 kg, while that of the Ram is 110 -140 kg, ensuring good amount of meat.

This makes the Dorper a favourite breed in several countries where it can be reared.

The Dorper has a killing time of five months. Its meat is lean, the fibre, fat content are also less than the Indian sheep and they come back to cycling in five months and lambing in eight months.

One can get an average of three lambs in two years with the Dorper, compared to the two among Indian breeds, said Mr Mansoor, who still hopes to get some help and revive the project in the State.

>soma@thehindu.co.in

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