46 Texel rams distributed among progressive farmers’
Srinagar| Nov, 07:In a major initiative aimed at giving fresh impetus to the sheep husbandry sector and improving the economic prospects of livestock farmers, the Department of Sheep Husbandry, Kashmir, Saturday distributed 46 genetically superior Texel male sheep among the progressive sheep farmers at Sheep Breeding Farm, Khimber, Srinagar.
The initiative, undertaken under the guidance and direction of Minister for Agriculture Production, Finance, Mining and Cooperatives Departments, Javid Ahmad Dar, marks an important step towards taking scientific breeding advancements and improved livestock resources beyond departmental farms and directly into farmers’ fields.
The intervention reflects the Government’s commitment to modernising sheep husbandry through scientific breeding, genetic improvement, enhanced productivity and the adoption of progressive livestock management practices, with the ultimate objective of making sheep rearing a more remunerative and sustainable livelihood activity.
The distribution of Texel rams is part of the broader strategy to improve the genetic potential of the indigenous sheep population by introducing superior germplasm into local breeding syste The initiative is expected to contribute towards improved meat production, better carcass characteristics and enhanced productivity thereby strengthening the income-generating capacity of sheep-rearing households.
Texel, an internationally recognised meat-producing sheep breed, is valued for its superior muscular development, meat yield and desirable carcass characteristics. Its introduction into local breeding programmes is expected to support the gradual genetic improvement of indigenous sheep populations through planned and scientifically managed crossbreeding.
Highlighting the significance of the initiative, Minister Javid Ahmad Dar said that the government is committed to ensure that the benefits of scientific research, technological advancements and improved breeding resources reach farmers at the grassroots level. He emphasised that sheep husbandry holds considerable potential for strengthening Jammu and Kashmir’s rural economy and improving the livelihoods of thousands of families associated with livestock rearing.
The Minister stressed that the focus of the government is not merely on increasing livestock numbers but improving the quality, productivity and economic value of livestock through scientific interventions and better breeding practices. He called upon farmers and livestock rearers to make optimum use of departmental support, adopt modern animal husbandry practices and maintain close coordination with technical institutions and field functionaries to maximise the benefits of such initiatives.
The Minister underscored the need for integrated development of agriculture and allied sectors, observing that agriculture, horticulture, dairy farming and sheep husbandry have significant potential to complement one another in generating rural employment, strengthening household incomes and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities, particularly for youth.
Through such targeted interventions, the Government aims to strengthen the sheep value chain, improve livestock productivity, promote scientific breeding practices and enhance the overall competitiveness of the sheep husbandry sector in Jammu and Kashmir.
