Selective breeding: Cross-bred Ramghani sheep caters to wool demand

Officials call for using the natural resource in garment making instead of twining into ropes

PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Livestock and Dairy Development Department have developed a new sheep breed Ramghani to fulfil high demand of wool for the woollen garment sector.

"A new sheep breed called Ramghani has been developed by livestock department through cross- breeding of local Kaghani sheep with exotic Rambouilett sheep breed to increase wool production in the province," an official of the Livestock and Dairy Development Department said on Monday.

The new breed is famous for semi-fine wool production to cater to people's high demands of quality woollen garments during winter season.

"Ramghani sheep is spread all over Hazara and Malakand divisions and its population is more than three million, producing about 3,000 metric tons of fine quality wool for the country," he said.

He regretted that a major portion of wool was being used in making of useless materials like ropes whereas a nominal portion of wool is being used in cottage industries for making of shawls, garments, caps and blankets.

The wastage of woollens at local level is making negative effects on overall woollen garments' production in the province, he said, adding transhumant livestock production is very important and known for specially wool and mutton animals.    If proper wool value addition and processing facilities are created in Hazara and Malakand division, he said, farmers will be encouraged and wool production will increase manifolds.

He said huge national and international markets existed for woollen garments of Pakistan in Middle East and Central Asian Republics and special incentives for farmers would give further boost to woollen industry in the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 11^th, 2018.