Effect of Non-Genetic Factors on Some Wool Traits in Rambouillet Sheep

Sheep are very good economic converter of grass into wool, milk and meat. Sheep utilize very sparse and low set vegetation for feed due to its extremely close grazing nature due to bifid upper lip and therefore never compete with goat or bigger animals (Banerjee, 1989). In fact, there is no substitute for sheep as a class of livestock for utilizing wastelands, stubbles of cultivated corps, tree topping, farm wastes or weeds from the field (Sahana, 2001). Rambouillet is a well-known breed due to its excellent maternal ability. It is the largest fine wool breed adaptable to wide variety of arid range conditions, has a well-developed flocking instinct and is long lived. Rambouillet is intensively used for crossbreeding programme in Jammu and Kashmir for improving the productivity of native sheep.