Major Activities
Sheep Breeding Research Station :: Sandynallah
   

SHEEP BREEDING RESEARCH STATION, SANDYNALLAH

The Sheep Breeding Research Station, Sandynallah of the Nilagiri district was established during the year 1950-51. It has a land area of 708.67 acres, of which about 500 acres is maintained as natural grasslands. The entire area consists of rolling hills with an average elevation of 2230 metres above mean sea level. The annual rainfall ranges from 800 to 3000 mm.

This research station in its fifty years of existence had two different mandates implemented in two phases. In the first phase (1950-72), the mandate was to improve the meat characteristics of Nilagiri sheep through crossbreeding with exotic dual-purpose sheep breeds. In the second phase (1973–90), the mandate was to improve the wool yield and quality of Nilagiri sheep by crossbreeding with Merino and Rambouillet sheep.

Objectives and Mandate

  • To maintain, conserve and propagate Nilagiri and Sandyno breeds of sheep and to improve their performance by intensive selection methods.
  • To develop a suitable mutton synthetic using Dorset and Nilagiri breeds.
  • To conduct on-farm research on problems of livestock farmers.
  • To conduct studies on nutrition, management and husbandry aspects of sheep and small livestock such as rabbit and geese and to produce seed stock for distribution to the needy farmers.
  • To serve as an extension education centre to impart training on sheep and rabbit rearing.
  • To impart farm training to UG students and to provide research facilities to PG students of the University

Research on Fodder Production
This Research station is involved in research on temperate fodder crops and trees.

  • Frost tolerant temperate grasses like Dactylls, Phalaris sp., Italian and perennial rye were introduced and evaluated.
  • Leguminous fodders like clover, berseem, lucerne were evaluated.
  • Tree fodders suitable for feeding in this region were identified and evaluated.
  • Agro forestry models for this hilly district were established.
  • Acacia melanoxylan + kikiyu grass
  • Tree lucerne + kikiyu grass
  • Tree lucerne + phalaris.

On Going Projects

  • ICAR / NBAGR scheme on “in-situ conservation of Toda buffalo and Nilagiri Sheep”
  • Plan scheme on “NARP – Hill and Tribal Zone – strengthening of Sheep Breeding Research Station, Sandynallah.
  • Tamil Nadu State Land Use Board Scheme on “Establishment of Model Fodder Farms through VUTRC’s”.

( Source: http://www.tanuvas.tn.nic.in/SBRS.html )

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