Sheep farming and rearing is one of the main occupations carried out by a large number of locals from Kashmir’s rural districts. The sheep breeding industry in Kashmir State benefits from good Agroclimatic conditions and natural resources such as abundant grasslands. Kashmir valley is a temperate zone located between the outer and inner ranges of the Western Himalayas. The region’s unique geographical position and climatic conditions make it ideal for sheep farming. This agricultural culture is critical to the socioeconomic upliftment of Kashmir’s weakest parts of society. The economic rewards from sheep breeding have greatly raised the standard of living for many Kashmiri sheep breeders. The Department of Sheep Husbandry in Kashmir has had tremendous success with the effective implementation of a cross-breeding program. This has resulted in significant advances in the production of wool and meat. The region is home to several magnificent breeds of sheep, which may be seen grazing in Kashmir’s picturesque valleys.
During my recent travel to Kashmir, I saw numerous lovely sheep breeds, like Gurezi, Karnahi, Bakerwali, and Poonchi, to name a few. The Gurezi Sheep breed is the largest and most attractive of the breeds. These sheep have small ears and primarily white wool. However, a few of colored sheep are kept to provide wool in natural colors of grey, black, and brown. In the summer, the animals feed on lush meadows above 8000 feet, but in the winter, they are confined. Many shepherds with enormous flocks of sheep may frequently be seen in the lush valleys, grazing on the grassland.
