Nellore Brown

🐑 Nellore Brown Sheep: The Pride of Southern India

At Surya LiveStocks, we proudly raise and promote the Nellore Brown sheep, a breed that embodies resilience, productivity, and regional heritage. Known for its superior meat quality and adaptability, the Nellore Brown is a cornerstone of ethical and scalable sheep farming in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

🌾 Origin and Distribution

The Nellore Brown is one of the three recognized strains of the Nellore breed, alongside Palla and Jodipi. It is predominantly found in:

  • Telangana: Especially in Mahbubnagar, Nalgonda, and Rangareddy districts.
  • Andhra Pradesh: Including Nellore, Prakasam, and Kadapa regions.

This strain thrives in semi-arid zones and is well-suited to extensive and semi-intensive systems of rearing.

 📏 Physical Characteristics

  • Color: Uniform brown coat, often with a lighter underbelly
  • Size: Medium to large frame; taller than most indigenous breeds
  • Ears: Long and drooping
  • Tail: Thin and tapering
  • Horns: Usually absent in females; males may have small curved horns

These features make the breed easily distinguishable and visually appealing for breed promotion.

📈 Growth and Performance

Recent studies show that Nellore Brown lambs raised under intensive and semi-intensive systems exhibit:

  • Higher birth weights** (up to 3.2 kg)
  • Faster weaning growth rates compared to extensive systems

This makes them ideal for farmers seeking faster turnover and consistent meat yield.

🍖 Meat Quality

  • Lean and tender with low fat content
  • High dressing percentage (up to 50–55%)
  • Preferred in regional markets for its taste and texture

The breed’s meat fetches premium prices in local mandis and urban outlets, making it economically viable for small and medium-scale farms.

🧬 Genetic Strength

  • – High genetic diversity with low inbreeding coefficient
  • Strong **disease resistance** and  heat tolerance
  • Closely related to Macherla strain, with minimal genetic distance (FST = 0.011)

This genetic robustness ensures long-term sustainability and adaptability to climate stress.

🛡️ Management and Welfare : At Surya LiveStocks, we follow ethical rearing practices:

  • Balanced feed regimen: Fertile Greens TMR, Corn Silage, Concentrate Feed with mineral mix
  • Clean water access and regular health checks
  • Breed-specific housing** with expansion plans from 250 to 750 capacity.

  • We also document and promote welfare protocols in Telugu for staff training and farmer outreach.

    📢 Breed Promotion and Regional Empowerment : We believe Nellore Brown sheep are not just livestock—they’re a legacy. Through our website and outreach programs, we:

    • Publish breed-specific articles in English and Telugu
    • Share schematic diagrams for infrastructure (e.g., water sump designs)
    • Offer supplier-ready checklists and feed labels

    Our goal is to empower regional farmers with knowledge, tools, and pride in their native breeds.

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