Prevailing Housing Management Practices among Sheep Owners in the Barmer District of Rajasthan, India

Abstract

Sheep housing is an important component of flock management in arid environments, where animals are exposed to marked seasonal temperature variations and limited water and feed resources. This field study assessed the prevailing housing management practices adopted by sheep owners in Barmer district, Rajasthan. A total of 240 sheep farmers were selected through a multistage random sampling procedure, and primary data were collected by personal interview using a pre-tested structured schedule. Most respondents housed sheep away from their residences (52.92%) and used open housing systems (55.42%). More than 10 square feet of floor space per animal was provided by 66.25% of respondents. Pucca sheds and wooden boundaries were each reported by 51.25% of the owners, while mixed flooring was the most common floor type (47.92%). Asbestos sheets were the most frequently used roofing material (32.08%). Separate housing for sheep was practised by 59.17% of respondents. However, only 42.92% had water troughs, 44.17% had drainage facilities, 50.83% reported adequate ventilation, and 41.25% provided protection against cold weather. Mangers were available in 57.92% of the sheep houses. The findings show that several farmers had adopted permanent or partly improved structural features, but important deficiencies remained in water provision, drainage, ventilation, and cold protection. These results provide baseline information for locally appropriate advisory and infrastructure-support measures for sheep housing in the arid conditions of Barmer district.