Question

Following 'Southern Peninsular Region' sheep breeds are maintained primarily for meat, except

• A. Vembur
• B. Coimbatore
• C. Nilgiri
• D. Ramnad white

Hint:

Most sheep breeds in Southern India are hair breeds raised for meat.
The Nilgiri sheep is a rare exception because it was crossed with Merinos to produce fine wool in the cool hilly regions.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Sheep breeds in India are adapted to specific agro-climatic zones and are classified as wool, meat, or dual-purpose breeds.
The Southern Peninsular region is dominated by hair-type sheep breeds maintained primarily for mutton production.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us analyze the primary production characteristics of the listed southern sheep breeds:
- Vembur: This is a hair sheep breed of Tamil Nadu. It is tall, has a red-brown coat, and is raised exclusively for meat.
- Ramnad White: This is another popular hair sheep breed from Tamil Nadu, raised primarily for meat.
- Coimbatore: This is a dual-purpose breed of Tamil Nadu that produces coarse wool used for carpets, but it is also heavily utilized for meat.
- Nilgiri: This breed is found in the high-altitude, hilly Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu.
It was developed by crossing local sheep with exotic Merino breeds.
Unlike most southern breeds, the Nilgiri is a fine-wool breed maintained primarily for apparel-grade wool production.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The Nilgiri sheep is maintained primarily for its fine wool, making it the exception among the meat breeds listed.