SHD Kashmir distributes Karnahi Rams to Boost Indigenous Breed Conservation 

SRINAGAR: The Sheep Husbandry Department (SHD) Kashmir, in collaboration with FVSc & AH, SKUAST-Kashmir, today organised a special ceremony at Directorate of Sheep Husbandry Kashmir, Lal Mandi for the distribution of Karnahi breed rams among local breeders. The programme also included the distribution of feed supplements and essential veterinary medicines, aiming to strengthen local livestock productivity and promote conservation of indigenous breeds. The initiative has been supported and funded by ICAR.

The event was graced by MLA Karnah,  Javaid Ahmad Mirchal; Director Sheep Husbandry Kashmir, Dr.Rafiq Ahmad Shah; Head, Animal Genetics & Breeding, Dr. Syed Shehnaz and Sheep Breeders of Karnah. On the occasion, MLA Karnah, appreciated the joint efforts of SKUAST-K and the Sheep Husbandry Department for their dedicated work toward conserving the indigenous Karnahi sheep breed. He urged the concerned agencies to further scale up these initiatives and acknowledged the department’s contribution in creating livelihood and employment-generating units across the region.

Addressing the gathering, Director Sheep Husbandry Kashmir, underlined the department’s ongoing initiatives in employment generation, selective crossbreeding in designated pockets and development of sustainable sheep production systems. He emphasized that while improved livestock has its place, conserving indigenous breeds is crucial to strengthening traditional low-input, high-output management systems. He encouraged local youth to explore opportunities in the livestock sector to achieve self-reliance and become employment generators themselves.       

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Syed Shehnaz highlighted the growing importance of conserving indigenous livestock breeds in the backdrop of rising disease incidence and emerging health challenges. She emphasized that local breeds, being naturally adapted to their environment, offer resilience, disease tolerance, and long-term sustainability for community-based farming systems.