Bellary

The Bellary breed is native to the districts of Bellary and Davanagere and the adjoining areas of Haveri and Chitradurga districts of Karnataka.

It is not very different from the Deccani. Sheep found to the north of the Tungabhadra River are called “Deccani” and those to the south of it are “Bellary”. They are medium-sized animals, with body colour ranging from white through various combinations of white and black to black. Most rams have horns, though ewes are generally polled. Ears are medium long, flat and drooping, the tail is short and thin, the fleece is extremely coarse, hairy and open and the belly and legs are devoid of wool.  

In farmers' flocks lambing percentage is 80–85% and the litter size is generally single. Breeding is mostly pure. Rams are selected on the basis of size. The animals are primarily maintained for meat. The ewes are milked for home consumption. The animals are shorn twice a year in June and December/January. The average annual fleece weight is 600 gms with an average fibre diameter and density of 59 μ and 350 cm2 respectively, and a medullation percentage of 43. According to the 18th Livestock Census 2007, the number of Bellary sheep in the country is 1,754,507.

Text Source: NBAGR

Photo Source: CSWRI, Avikanagar