Sheep husbandry practices and performance in Telangana

Sheep is one of the important species of livestock contributing to the livelihood of resource poor farmers in rural areas especially where crop and dairy farming are not economical in arid and semiarid regions and largely in marginal and sub – marginal holdings. It contributes to the farm households not only by acting as a source of livelihood and nutritional security but also as a moving asset which can be liquidated at times of crisis within short time. Sheep with its peculiar habit of lower grazing and higher utilization of crude fiber can reach to the remotest areas and utilize the vegetation on the lands which are otherwise uncultivable.