The Marwari is an Indian breed of domestic sheep. It originates in, and is named for, the Marwar region of south-western Rajasthan, in the north-west of India. It is reared in the five principal districts of Marwar – Barmer, Jalore, Jodhpur, Nagaur and Pali – and also in some neighbouring districts of Rajasthan and Gujarat.[4]

Marwari
several black-faced white-woollen sheep with no horns
Conservation statusFAO (2007): not at risk[1]: 60 
Other names
  • Marwadi (in northern Gujarat)[2]: 314 
  • Layda[3]: 846 
Country of originIndia
Distribution
Usewool
Traits
Weight
  • Male:
    31 kg[5]
  • Female:
    26 kg[5]
Height
  • Male:
    62 cm[5]
  • Female:
    59 cm[5]
Wool colourwhite[5]
Face colourblack[5]
Horn statushornless in both sexes

Characteristics

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The Marwari is a small sheep, standing approximately 60 cm at the withers. It has white body and a black face. It is a polled breed – both sexes are without horns. The ears are unusually small, and are tubular in shape.[4]

The Marwari sheep is raised for its wool, which is of coarse or carpet quality. Fleeces weigh about 1.8 kg on average.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Barbara Rischkowsky, D. Pilling (eds.) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Accessed January 2017.
  2. ^ Valerie Porter, Ian Lauder Mason (2002). Mason's World Dictionary of Livestock Breeds, Types, and Varieties (fifth edition). Wallingford: CABI. ISBN 085199430X.
  3. ^ Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. ISBN 9781780647944.
  4. ^ a b c R.M. Acharya (1982). Sheep and goat breeds of India. FAO Animal Production and Health Paper 30. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Archived 1 February 2003.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Breed data sheet: Marwari / India (Sheep). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed June 2019.