Nilgiri

The Nilgiri breed is said to have evolved during the 19th century, originating from a cross-breed base and contains an unknown level of inheritance of Coimbatore, the local hairy breed, Tasmanian Merino, Cheviot and Southdown.

They are found in the Nilgiri hills in Tamil Nadu. The breed is well adapted to the conditions of the region and produces a fine fleece. There is little organized shearing and marketing of wool, the sheep being mostly maintained for manure by tea planters and other flock owners. There is need for conservation of this breed, considering its very small numbers, its adaptation, and the need for meat and apparel wool in the area in which it is located. They are medium-sized animals. Their body colour is white; however, sometimes there are brown patches on the face and body. The face line is convex, giving a typical Roman nose. Ears are broad, flat and drooping. Males have horn buds¹  and scurs²; females are polled. The tail is medium and thin and the fleece is fine and dense. Under farm conditions lambing percentage is 65; litter size is single. The average annual fleece weight is 1.23 kg with an average fibre diameter and density of 27 μ and 2,200 cm² respectively, with a medullation percentage of 11. 

According to the 18th Livestock Census of 2007, there are 11,893 Nilgiri sheep left in India. 

	Adult Male	Adult Female
Average Body weight (kg)	31	25
Average Body length (cm)	64	59
Average Height at withers (cm)3	65	58
Average Chest girth (cm)	77	75

 

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Text Source: http://www.fao.org/docrep/004/x6532e/X6532E04.htm#ch3.2.10

Photo Source: CSWRI, Avikanagar