Bonpala
May 06, 2013
The Bonpala breed is native to southern Sikkim. The animals are tall, leggy and well-built. The fleece colour ranges from completely white to completely black with a number of intermediary shades, and the quality is coarse, hairy and open . The ears are small and tubular and both sexes are horned. The tail is thin and short and the belly and legs are devoid of wool. Shearing is generally undertaken twice annually producing about 400-500 grams of wool per year.
The average fibre diameter is 66 μ with a medullation percentage of 95. According to the 18th Livestock Census of 2007, there are 596,966 Bonpala sheep in India. (Refer to the maps below)
| Average for both male and female | |
|---|---|
| Body weight (kg) | 41 |
| Body length (cm) | 75 |
| Height at withers (cm) | 73 |
| Chest girth (cm) | 80 |
Text Source: http://www.fao.org/docrep/004/x6532e/X6532E05.htm#ch4.2.6
Photo Source: CSWRI, Avikanagar
