Chokla

Chokla also known as Chhappar and Shekhawati is native to the districts of Churu, Nagaur and Sikar in Rajasthan.

Chokla is perhaps the finest carpet-wool breed, although most Chokla wool is now being diverted to the worsted sector because of a dearth of fine apparel-wool in the country. Cross-breeding of the Chokla with exotic fine wool breeds (Merino and Rambouillet) has been promoted to improve apparel-wool production and quality, and this has led to a decline in numbers of this breed.    

They are light to medium-sized animals. The face, generally devoid of wool, is reddish brown or dark brown, and the colour may extend up to the middle of the neck; the skin is pink. The ears are small to medium in length and tubular. Both sexes are polled. The tail is thin and of medium length. The coat is dense and relatively fine, covering the entire body including the belly and the greater part of the legs. Age at first breeding for males is 15 months and for females is 24 months. Lambing percentage is about 75 and the litter size is single with rare cases of twinning.  A large percentage of males not required for breeding are castrated and kept for wool production. Male lambs are sold for slaughter between the ages of 5 to 7 months. 

The annual average fleece weight is 2.74 kg with an average fibre diameter and density of 28 μ and 1,040 cm2 respectively, and a medullation percentage of 24. According to the Livestock Census of 2007, there are 577,093 Chokla sheep in India. (Refer to maps below)

Text Source: NBAGR and http://www.fao.org/docrep/004/x6532e/X6532E02.htm#ch2.2.3

Photo Source: CSWRI, Avikanagar