sheep migrated to India with the Tibetan traders who used them as
beasts of burden for transporting various merchandise besides wool
(Government of Bengal, 1864). Independence of India in 1947 led to political
and economic changeswith concomitant cessation of their migration
in the country.
Tibetan animals are of medium size, mostly white with black or
brown face and brown and white spots on the body. The fleece is relatively
fine and is among the best obtained from native ovine breeds
of Indian subcontinent (Banerjee, 2009). The animals are unique being
adapted to the harsh temperate climate and difficult terrains of
Himalayas and survive even in the open housing system. Tibetan is
regarded as one of themost rustic sheep breeds which thrives in conditions
of extreme harshness and deprivation while providing meat and
down for the people. They are the only source of livelihood in the area
since agriculture is not suitable due to the geo-climatic characteristics.
However, population of Tibetan sheep has been decreasing drastically
in recent past (Banerjee, 2009) due to lack of regulated market, transport
linkage, shrinkage of pasture land, increased inbreeding and occurrence
of diseases. Population has gone down from 30,000