CHAPTER 4: THE EASTERN REGION

4.1 Background

The region comprises the States of Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa, Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura, Nagaland and Sikkim. It is mostly hot and humid, except for some parts of eastern States which are sub-temperate and humid.

4.1.1 Land use

This region has a total reported area for land utilization of 64.49 m hectares, of which 23.82 m hectares net sown area and 10.19 m hectares not available for agricultural purposes. An area of 30.48 m hectares with natural vegetation is thus available for animal grazing.

4.1.2 Topography

Northern Bihar has mainly alluvial plains, while the southern part has many alluvial depressions and mountain regions with a alternate uplands and lowlands; the Chottanagpur area in southern Bihar represents gradually descending table-lands. Orissa's northern plateau consists of gentle, rolling topography and flat table-lands. The central part of the State has table-land constituting the watershed for the major rivers of the State. In the east and southwest are the uplands of the Eastern Ghats, while there is a coastal tract between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal. West Bengal's mountain regions are Darjeeling, Sandakpu, Phalut, Tanglu and Midnapur, while the plains and table-lands are mainly in Jalpaiguri, Cooch Bihar, Dinajpur and Malda. The eastern States have several hill ranges and deep valleys. Brahmaputra and Surma valleys in Assam constitute major flat-lands separated by mountain ranges.

4.1.3 Major soil types

Alluvial soils cover the extensive area in north Bihar, the northern part of West Bengal, and the Brahmaputra and Surma valleys of Assam. Along the foothills of the Himalayas (Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Bihar and Darrang), a narrow belt of terai soils is present. South Bihar and West Orissa have red and yellow soils, while the soils of East Orissa and West Bengal are red sandy to red loamy. The Singhbhum area of South Bihar has mixed red and black soils. The eastern part of West Bengal has alluvial, deltaic alluvium and laterite soils. In the eastern States, Assam has a spread of recent alluvial soil in its northern part while in the southern part, Cachar area is represented by old alluvial and red loamy soils. Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland have red loamy soils, Meghalaya has laterite soils, and Tripura, Manipur and Mizoram have red and yellow soils.

4.1.4 Feed and fodder resources

Perennial grasses: Agropyron canaliculatum, Agrostis spp., Andropogon tristis, Aristida setacea, Arundinella bengalensis, A. nepalensis, Bothriochloa pertusa, Calamagrostis emodensis, Chrysopogon aciculatus, Chrysopogon gryllus, Cymbopogon spp., Cynodon dactylon, Desmostachya bipinnata, Dichanthium annulatum, D. caricosum, Dimeria fuscescens, Eragrostiella leioptera, Eragrostis coarctata, Eremopogon foveolatus, Erianthus rufipilus, Festuca spp., Heteropogon contortus, Hymenachne pseudointerrupta, Imperata cylindrica, Ischaemum barbatum, I. indicum, Iseilema laxum, Koeleria cristata, Leersia hexandra, Narenga porphyrocoma, Neyraudia reynaudiana, Paspalum conjugatum, Phleum alpinum, Phragmites karka, Poa alpina, P. pratensis, Saccharum bengalense, S. spontaneum, Sporobolus sp., Sehima nervosum, Temeda anathera, T. arundinacea, Trisetum spicatum.

Fig.7 Sheep breeds in the eastern region

Fig.8 Goat breeds in the eastern region

Annual grasses: Andropogon pumilus, Apluda mutica, Aristida spp., Arthraxon sp., Dactyloctenium aegyptium, Digitaria spp., Dimeria acutipes, Echinochloa colonum, Eragrostiella spp., Eragrostis spp., Eulalia sp., Eschaemum rugosum, Jansenella griffithiana, Microchloa indica, Microstegium ciliatum, Oropetium thomaeum, Oryza rufipogon, Oryzopsis lateralis, Panicum psilopodium, Paspalum sp., Perotis indica, Poa annua, Polypogon fugaz, Sacciolepis indica, Setaria glauca, Tripogon filiformis.

Herbs: Abelia triflora, Ageratum conyzoides, Alpinia sp., Alysicarpus spp., Atylosia spp., Carex condensata, C. foliolosa, Cassia tora, Centella asiatica, Crotalaria prostrata, Cyperus spp., Desmodium spp., Eriocaulon sp., Galium triflorum, Indigofera spp., Junus sp., Lespedeza sericea, Mimosa pudica, Moghania stricta, Oldenlandia corymbosa, Phaseolus spp., Plantago major, Polygala mollis, Polygonum sp., Potentilla mooniana, Thymus serpyllum, Trichodesma indica, Tridax procumbens, Trifolium spp., Uraria picta, Zornia diphylla.

Shrubs and trees: Acacia catechu, Adhatoda vasica, Adina cordifolia, Albizia procera, Anacardium accidentale, Anona squamosa, Barleria prionitis, Bauhinia sp., Berberis aristata, B. umbellata, Bridelia sp., Butea monosperma, Calamus sp., Cassia auriculata, Cedrela toona, Cedrus deodara, Clerodendron viscosum, Cotoneaster microphylla, Cryptomeria japonica, Dendrocalamus strictus, Dodonaea viscosa, Emblica officinalis, Erythrina variegata, Eupatorium coloratum, Holoptelea integrifolia, Hypericum mysorensis, Ilex dipyrena, Madhuca indica, Melocanna bambusoides, Morus alba, Myricaria bracteata, Phoenix humilis, P. sylvestris, Pinus insignis, P. wallichiana, Pueraria hirsuta, Pyrus sp., Rhododendron spp., Rosa spp., Salamalia malabarica, Shorea robusta, Tectona grandis, Terminalia tomentosa, Trewia nudiflora, Zizyphus nummularia.

Main crops: rice, pulses, oilseeds, maize, millets, sorghum, sugar cane, cotton, jute, etc.

4.1.5 Management practices

Migration. In the plains most of the flocks are stationary, migrating to neighbouring districts only in scarcity periods. Sheep flocks in Bankura and Purulia districts of West Bengal migrate to Ranchi district in Bihar and other neighbouring districts in West Bengal. In hilly parts of the eastern States, the migration pattern is very similar to that in the north temperate region, where the flocks migrate to higher altitudes during summer. In Sikkim, Bonpala sheep start migrating in late March or early April and remain in the higher hills to avoid rain, poisonous plants and leeches which come up with the rains in the lower hills.

Grazing. The animals are primarily grazed on crop stubbles, on natural grazing lands and in forest areas.

Penning. Penning practices are very similar to those in other regions: flocks are penned in the open fields. In the hilly States, however, the animals are housed in the lower part of the house along with other livestock.

Shearing. The animals are generally shorn in February/March and again in September/October.

Disease. Major diseases are pneumonia, sheep-pox, enterotoxaemia and internal parasites, especially liver-fluke.

4.1.6 Population, production and important breeds

There are 3.19 m sheep in this region, representing 7.99% of the total sheep population of the country. They produce 1.47 m kg of wool, i.e. about 4% of India's total wool production, most of it below 36s and suitable only for extremely coarse carpets, blankets and kamblies. Except for small pockets in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim bordering Tibet, where Tibetan sheep yield good carpet wool and medium apparel wool, most sheep in the region produce extremely coarse and hairy fleeces. The important breeds are Shahabadi and Chottanagpuri in Bihar and part of West Bengal, Ganjam and Balangir in Orissa, Bonpala in Sikkim and Tibetan sheep in parts of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim (Figure 7).

The region has 17.08 m goats, representing 25.2% of the goat population of the country. Important breeds are Bengal (black, brown, white and grey) and Ganjam (Figure 8).

CHOTTANAGPURI	Plate 41
	a) ADULT MALE
	b) ADULT FEMALE
	c) FLOCK

4.2 Sheep breeds

4.2.1 CHOTTANAGPURI (Plate 41)

a) Distribution. Chottanagpur, Ranchi, Palamau, Hazaribagh, Singhbhum, Dhanbad and Santhal Parganas of Bihar, and Bankura district of West Bengal.

b) Numbers. The total sheep population in the Chottanagpuri distribution area, according to the 1972 census, was 0.647 m, and according to the 1977 census 0.524 m, of which 0.090 adult males and 0.318 m adult females; there was thus a sizeable decline.

c) Climate

d) Breed characteristics

ii) Conformation. Small, light-weight animals, light grey and brown in colour. Ears are small and parallel to the head; ear length: 9.35 ± 0.18 cm (429). Tail is thin and short; tail length: 13.11 ± 0.16 cm (429). Both sexes are polled. Fleece is coarse, hairy and open; it is generally not clipped.

e) Flock structure. Flacks generally consist of 5 to 6 males and 70 to 80 adult females and their young.

f) Breeding. Animals are pure-bred.

g) Production. No information on reproductive or productive performance is available. The animals are shorn three times a year, in March/April, June/July and October/November and produce a yearly average (3, 7) of 0.184 kg (47) of hairy wool with an average fibre diameter of 52.54 μ (6) and a medullation percentage (3, 7) of 83.61% (6).

SHAHABADI	Plate 42
	a) ADULT MALE
	b) ADULT FEMALE
	c) FLOCK

4.2.2 SHAHABADI (also known as “plain type sheep”) (Plate 42)

a) Distribution. Shahabad, Patna and Gaya districts of Bihar.

b) Numbers. The total sheep population in the Shahabadi distribution area, according to the 1972 census, was 0.333 m, and according to the 1977 census 0.596 m, of which 0.103 m breeding rams and 0.363 m adult ewes. There was thus a very large increase.

c) Climate

d) Breed characteristics

ii) Conformation. Medium-sized, leggy animals. The fleece colour is mostly grey, sometimes with black spots. Ears are medium-sized and drooping; ear length: 16.63 ± 0.30 cm (420). Tail is extremely long and thin; tail length: 35.25 ± 0.32 cm (420). Both sexes are polled. Fleece is extremely coarse, hairy and open; legs and belly are devoid of wool.

e) Flock structure. The flocks generally contain 5 to 6 rams and 70 to 80 adult ewes and their young.

f) Performance

• Wool production and quality (Source: 7)

BALANGIR	Plate 43
	a) ADULT MALE
	b) ADULT FEMALE
	c) FLOCK

4.2.3 BALANGIR (Plate 43)

a) Distribution. Northwestern districts of Orissa: Balangir, Sambalpur, Sundargarh.

b) Numbers. The total sheep population in the Balangir distribution area, according to the 1972 census, was 0.316 m, of which 0.045 m adult males and 0.128 m adult females.

c) Climate

d) Breed characteristics

ii) Conformation. Medium-sized animals, white or light brown or of mixed colours. A few animals are also black. The ears are small and stumpy. Males are horned; females are polled. Tail is medium long and thin. Fleece is extremely coarse, hairy and open. Legs and belly are devoid of wool.

e) Flock structure. The average flock contains 14 individuals (range: 3 to 24), of which 2 adult males, 7 adult females and 5 lambs.

f) Reproduction. In farmers' flocks: lambing percentage: 84.3%; litter size: single.

g) Mortality. In farmers' flocks: young: 8.0%; adults: 1.6%.

h) Breeding. Pure breeding.

GANJAM	Plate 44
	a) ADULT MALE
	b) ADULT FEMALE
	c) FLOCK

4.2.4 GANJAM (Plate 44)

a) Distribution. Koraput, Phulbani and part of Puri district of Orissa.

b) Numbers. The total sheep population in the Ganjam distribution area, according to the 1972 census, was 0.300 m, of which 0.092 m adult males and 0.181 m adult females.

c) Climate

d) Breed characteristics

ii) Conformation. Medium-sized animals with coat colour ranging from brown to dark tan; some have white spots on the face and body. Ears are medium-sized and drooping; ear length: 13.02 ± 0.17 cm (107). Nose line is slightly convex. Tail is medium long and thin. Males are horned; females are polled. Fleece is hairy and short; it is not shorn.

e) Flock structure. The average flock contains 60 individuals (range: 10 to 500), of which 1 adult ram, 36 adult females and 23 lambs.

f) Reproduction. In farmers' flocks: lambing percentage: 83.6%; litter size: single.

g) Mortality. In farmers' flocks: young: 19.6%; adults: 4.1%.

h) Breeding. Pure breeding. Little selection is made in the flocks.

TIBETAN	Plate 45
	a) ADULT MALE
	b) ADULT FEMALE
	c) FLOCK

4.2.5 TIBETAN (Plate 45)

a) Distribution. Northern Sikkim and Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh.

b) Numbers. The total number of Tibetan sheep in the area is about 30 000. Tibetan sheep produce an excellent, lustrous, carpet-quality wool, which was available in plenty to the Indian States bordering Tibet when the border with Tibet was open. However, since the border was closed in 1962, little Tibetan wool has been available from Tibet. Considering the small number of Tibetan sheep available in India and their qualities, there is need for their conservation.

c) Climate

d) Breed characteristics

ii) Conformation. Medium-sized animals, mostly white with black or brown face; brown and white spots are also observed on the body. Both sexes are horned. The nose line is convex, giving a typical Roman nose. The ears are small, broad and drooping. The fleece is relatively fine and dense. The belly, legs and face are devoid of wool.

e) Flock structure. Flocks vary from 50 to 250 individuals.

f) Breeding. The animals are pure-bred, except that recently some cross-breeding with Merino has been introduced in Kameng district to improve fleece production and quality.

g) Performance

• Wool production and quality (sources: 1, 2)

Animals are shorn twice a year, during April/May and October/November.

BONPALA	Plate 46
	a) ADULT MALE
	c) FLOCK

4.2.6 BONPALA (Plate 46)

a) Distribution. Southern Sikkim.

b) Numbers. About 30 000.

c) Breed characteristics

ii) Conformation. Tall, leggy, well-built animals. Fleece colour ranges from completely white to completely black with a number of intermediary tones. Ears are small and tubular. Both sexes are horned; horn length: 11.67 ± 0.75 (48). Tail is thin and short; tail length: 15.32 ± 0.24 (48). Fleece is coarse, hairy and open. Belly and legs are devoid of wool.

d) Performance

• Wool production and quality

The animals are shorn twice a year, producing about 0.400 g per year.

GANJAM	Plate 47
	a) ADULT MALE
	b) ADULT FEMALE
	c) FLOCK

4.3 Goat breeds

4.3.1 GANJAM (also known as Dalua) (Plate 47)

a) Distribution. Southern districts of Orissa: Ganjam and Koraput.

b) Numbers. The total goat population in the Ganjam distribution area, according to the 1972 census, was 0.448 m, of which 0.056 m adult males and 0.103 m adult females.

c) Climate

d) Breed characteristics

ii) Conformation. Tall, leggy animals. The coat may be black, white, brown or spotted, but black predominates. Hairs are short and lustrous. Ears are mediumsized; ear length: 14.50 ± 0.15 cm (175). Both sexes have long, straight horns, directed upward; horn length: 20.97 ± 0.33 cm (175). Tail is medium-long.

e) Flock structure. The average flock contains 84.5 ± 37.5 individuals (26) (range: 20 to 500), of which 2.9 adult males, 59.8 adult females and 21.8 young.

f) Reproduction. In farmers' flocks: kidding percentage: 82.0 ± 4.2% (17); litter size: singles: 98.4%; twins: 1.6% (17). Under farm conditions (10): age at first kidding: 1 066.9 ± 25.6 days; kidding interval: 376.1 ± 6.7 days; service period: 216.8 ± 5.1 days.

g) Mortality. Young: 27.5 ± 3.5% (18); adults: 0.9 ± 0.38% (18).

h) Performance

• Milk. In farmers' flocks: average daily yield: 319.44 ± 28.62 g; average lactation length: 141.6 ± 9.9 days.

• Meat: body weight (kg) (source: 10)

BENGAL	Plate 48
	a) ADULT MALE
	b) ADULT FEMALE
	c) FLOCK

4.3.2 BENGAL (Plate 48)

Individuals of this breed are sometimes distinguished by colour as Black, Brown, Gray and White Bengal. Personal surveys suggest that the breed could be separated into two types, one found in the hot humid plains of West Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, and the other in the sub-temperate and humid uplands and plains of Assam and other northeastern States. The latter were earlier known as Assam Plain and Assam Hill goats, depending on their location, but are not substantially different from the former.

a) Distribution. Distributed throughout all eastern and northeastern India, from Bihar through northern Orissa to all West Bengal, Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya.

b) Numbers. The total Bengal-type goat population in the States of West Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, according to the 1972 census, was 14.164 m, of which 2.198 m adult males and 6.257 m adult females. In Assam and other northeastern States, the goat population was 1.501 m, of which 0.304 m adult males and 0.543 m adult females.

c) Climate

d) Breed characteristics

i) Size (sources: 9, 11, 12 and personal surveys)

ii) Conformation. Small animals. The predominant coat colour is black; brown, grey and white are also found, the former two sometimes with black markings along the back and on the belly and extremities. In a survey of 230 goats in Assam, 96 were completely black, 51 completely white, 11 brown, 45 white with black markings, and 17 brown with black markings. In another survey in Bihar, the proportion of grey to brown was 35:65. The hair coat is short and lustrous. The nose line is slightly depressed. Both sexes have small to medium horns, directed upward and sometimes backward; average horn length: 6.4 cm (range: 5.8 to 11.5 cm). Beard is observed in both sexes. The ears are short, flat and carried horizontally; average ear length: 13.8 cm (range: 11.5 to 14.1 cm).

e) Flock structure. Generally, only 2 or 3 animals. A Bihar survey showed a range of 5 to 20.

f) Reproduction. Under farm conditions: kidding percentage on the basis of does available (2): 71.16% (113). Litter size (1): singles: 44.6%; twins: 51.3%; triplets: 4.1% (74). In another study (7) of Black Bengal does: kidding percentage: 85%; litter size: singles: 22.4%; twins: 54.0%; triplets: 20.9%; quadruplets: 2.7%.

g) Performance

• Meat: body weight (kg) (sources: 3, 5, 8)

Dressing percentage (3): 45.7%. Skins are of excellent quality and are highly prized.

• Milk. Average lactation yield (3): 58.00 ± 4.64 kg (76); average lactation length (3): 118.9 ± 9.58 days (76).

REFERENCES

I. SHEEP

1. Bardoloi, R.K. & Tamhan, S.S. 1979a Studies on sheep and wool production. Annual Report 1979. Northeastern Agricultural Agricultural Research Complex, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Shillong, Meghalaya.

2. Bardoloi, R.K. & Tamhan, S.S. 1979b Sheep rearing in northeastern India, Arunachal Pradesh. World Rev. of Animal Prod. (submitted).

3. Chaudhary, B.N. 1975 Performance of wool quality of the sheep of Bihar. Indian Vet. J. 42: 191–200.

4. Mishra, H.R., Prasad, R.J., Biswas, S.C. & Jaruhar, H.K. 1970 A study on breed characteristics of Shahabadi strain of sheep in Bihar. Bihar J. of Vet. Sci. & Animal Husb. 1: 20–27.

5. Mishra, H.R., Prasad, R.J., Biswas, S.C. & Jaruhar, H.K. 1975 A study on breed characteristics of Chottanagpuri strain of sheep in Bihar. Ranchi Agric. Univ. J. of Res. 1: 39–43.

6. Patnayak, B.C. & Mishra, R.K. 1979 A note on the development of sheep and goats in Orissa. Mimeographed. Central Sheep & Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar, Rajasthan.

7. Singh, O.N. 1967 Crossbreeding of sheep for fine wool production in India. Wool & Woollens of India 3(10): 37–41.

II. GOATS

1. AICRP, GB, Gauhati. 1976 Annual Report 1976. All-India Coordinated Research Project on Goats for Meat. Assam Agricultural University, Khannapara, Gauhati, Assam.

2. AICRP, GB, Gauhati. 1978 Annual Report 1978. All-India Coordinated Research Project on Goats for Meat. Assam Agricultural University, Khannapara, Gauhati, Assam.

3. AHD, West Bengal. 1965 Final Report of the scheme for development of mutton breeds of goats in West Bengal for the period 1.8.55–31.3.65. Directorate of Animal Husbandry, West Bengal, Calcutta.

4. Ali, S.Z., Hoque, M.M. & Hasnath, M.A. 1973 A study on the growth and reproductive performance of Black Bengal goats under farm conditions. Indian Vet. J. 50: 438–440.

5. Guha, H., Gupta, S., Mukherjee, A.K., Moulick, S.K. & Bhattacharya, S. 1968 Some causes of variation in the growth rates of Black Bengal goats. Indian J. of Vet. Sci. & Animal Husb. 38: 269–278.

6. Mani Mohan. 1980 Personal communication. All-India Coordinated Research Project on Goat-Breeding. Assam Agricultural University, Khannapara, Gauhati, Assam.

7. Moulick, S.K., Guha, H., Gupta, S., Mitra, D.K. & Bhattacharya, S. 1966 Factors affecting multiple birth in Black Bengal goats. Indian J. of Vet. Sci. & Animal Husb. 36: 154–163.

8. Moulick, S.K. & Systrad, O. 1970 Genetic and environmental causes of variation in birth weight of Black Bengal goats. J. of Agric. Sci., Cambridge 74: 409–414.

9. Mukherjee, D.K., Singh, C.S.P. & Mishra, H.R. 1979 A note on some phenotypic parameters in Grey and Brown Bengal goats. Indian J. of Animal Sci. 49: 671–673.

10. Pani, S.N. 1978 A note on potential and prospects of goat production research in Orissa. Paper presented at the 4th Workshop on the All-India Coordinated Project on Goats, held at Poona, 5–7 July 1978.

11. RBS College, Bichpuri. 1978 Technical Progress Report, PL 480 Research Project No. A7-AH-89: “Studies on the combining ability of desirable characters of important goat breeds for meat and milk separately and in combination”. Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Raja Balwant Singh College, Bichpuri, Agra.

12. Singh, C.S.P., Mishra, H.R., Sharma, B.D., Mukherjee, D.K. & Singh, D.K. 1979 A note on body measurements of Black Bengal goats. Indian J. of Animal Sci. 49: 669– 670.