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The Bellary sheep is a medium-sized Indian breed of sheep native to the districts of Bellary and Davanagere and the adjoining areas of Haveri and Chitradurga districts of Karnataka.

Characteristics

Bellary sheep are medium-sized^[1] with body color ranging from white through various combinations of white and black to complete black. Most of the rams have horns, while ewes are polled. Its ears are medium-sized, flat, and droop. It has a thin, short tail.^[2] Fleece is coarse, hairy and open. There is no wool on belly and legs. In a year, the Bellary grows up to 26 kg and gives birth to a single lamb.^[3] It is well adapted to the black soils and agro-climatic conditions of northern parts of Karnataka. Flocks of Bellary sheep migrate 150 to 300 kilometers to the southern parts of the state during December–August.^[4]

References

^ "Sheep and Goat Breeds of India. R.M. Acharya. FAO Animal Health and Production Paper No. 30. Rome. 190 p. 1982". Animal Genetic Resources Information. 2: 45–46. April 1984. doi:10.1017/S1014233900003771. ISSN 1014-2339.
^ "Livestock of the World". Retrieved 15 August 2024.
^ "Breed Profiles". Retrieved 15 August 2024.
^ Jain, A. Kulkarni, V.S., Govindaiah, M.G., Sadana, D.K., Aswathnarayan, T., Pandey, A.K., Kumar, D., Sharma, R. and Signh, G. 2005. Sheep Genetic Resources of India Bellary. ICAR Monograph, National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, Karnal, India. Pp24