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Cuttack: A distinct variety of sheep found mainly in Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak and Jajpur districts will soon get the status of a registered breed in India.
Researchers from the state animal resources development department, Orissa Animal Resources Development Society and College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry have spotted rare gene mutation in the sheep variety during their year-long research, sources said.
The researchers have recommended that National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) give the sheep, popularly known as Kendrapara variety among people of the area, a registered breed status.
“Our research has confirmed that Kendrapara sheep have some distinct genes. Around 80 per cent of this variety of sheep can give birth to two lambs at a time while 9 per cent are capable of giving birth to three lambs at a time. About 1 per cent of Kendrapara sheep can even give birth to four lambs at a time,” said researcher Sushant Kumar Das.
Kendrapara sheep get impregnated after a gap of eight months, according to sources. Sheep of this variety can grow up to 28 kg. The state has 1.23 lakh Kendrapara sheep, Das said.
Till date, researchers have found rare gene qualities in six varieties of sheep, including the Kendrapara variety. “Distinct gene qualities have been found in four varieties of sheep in Australia and New Zealand and one variety in neighbouring West Bengal,” Das said. NBAGR has so far provided registered breed status to 40 varieties of sheep across the country, according to sources.
“We are sure Kendrapara sheep will get the registered breed status soon. The state government is preparing a detailed plan for the development and preservation of Kendrapara sheep,” state animal resources development department director Pratap Kumar Das said.
The state animal resource development department also plans to seek registered breed status for Ghumusari and Raighar varieties of goat. “NBAGR had earlier provided registered breed status to Binjharpuri, Ghumusari, Khariala and Motu varieties of cow in the state. It had also provided the status to Chilika and Kalahandi varieties of buffalo,” said Orissa Animal Disease Research Institute deputy director Bira Kishore Parida.
