December 1948]
P. N. NANDA AND GURBAX SINGH
201
till the best breeds are found in the northern parts of the country. The range of climate over this
area is also variable to the same extent. This shows that limitations of climate etc., are probably
responsible for the inherent qualities of different breeds. Drastic changes under such circumstances
may not produce appreciable results. Two alternatives are, therefore, suggested, before any definite
lines are laid down for improvement. In those breeds which are extremely hairy in the fleece and
possess little potentialities for a woolly type, attempts to improve their character to a clothing type
must be tried with caution. A suitable plan would be to bring these up to an ideal carpet wool produc-
ing sheep, corresponding with B type animals described in this note. For dealing with other breeds,
which are located in favourable environments, efforts may be made to breed them for a clothing type
sheep.
Secondly, much of the impetus to produce a better class wool depends upon the price obtained in
the market. Unfortunately, market conditions are very unsatisfactory in the country and there is
no encouragement for the breeders of better quality wool. All wools whether good or poor, classed
or unclassed and washed or unwashed sell practically at the same price in villages. To encourage
breeders to produce better wool, it is essential that the markets should be organized on systematic
lines and the prices controlled on some recognized standard basis.
Thirdly, it has been observed that the fine quality wool has a limited use as a cottage industry.
This is because no head-way has been made in providing suitable hand looms for treating this fibre.
With the increase in production of good quality wool, it is necessary that particular attention should
be paid to this item. In order to encourage the production of a better quality wool, adequate safe-
guards will also be needed to restrict imports of foreign wool.
SUMMARY
1. A method for improving wool quality in the Bikaneri and Lohi sheep by selective breeding
has been suggested.
2. Workable standards of wool quality according to their utility value in the manufacturing
processes have been laid down on medullation basis.
3. Breeding from A type rams, higher percentage of better class progeny is obtained. The
percentage of medullation in the fleeces of the progeny appears to be directly related to the percentage
of medullation in the ewes and rams.
4. Inter-breeding of A type sheep (having less than 20 per cent medullation) produces a high
percentage of better class progeny, indicating definite possibilities for evolving a clothing type sheep
from both these breeds.
5. Improvement in fleece quality appears to result in a decrease in the size, live weight, fertility
of ewes and growth of lambs. It is also apparent that these deficiencies can be made good by fixing
minimum standards for rams and paying special attention to the milk flow of the dams at the time of
selection.
6. It has been observed that the A class rams possess variable prepotency in transmitting their
characters to the progeny. This may be due to a variable percentage of medullation in their fleece
which range from 0 to 20 per cent. To ensure maximum improvement in the flock, all rams should
be subjected to the progeny test at the close of the breeding season and only desirable rams should be
retained for breeding. In addition, assessing of wool quality of the ram should be based on testing
representative samples from the different regions of the fleece and not from the shoulder alone.
7. For large-scale improvement in the village flocks, it seems, that a preliminary survey of all
the sheep breeds throughout the country is necessary to lay down a definite plan. Proper control
and organization of wool markets with the establishment of utilization centres to deal with the fine
quality wool in hand looms are additional requirements to encourage breeders to produce fine quality
of wool.
REFERENCES
Nanda, P. N., Singh, G. and Mongre, S. B. (1940). Ind. Farm. 7, 18
————— (1947). Ind. Farm. 87, 4