The National Agriculture Commission recommended development of fine wool breeds in the state. Local Kashmir valley ewes were crossed with Australian Merino Rams & F1 Ewes were bred to Delain Rams of USA. F2 were bred among themselves after proper selection on the basis of wool quality & body weight. The matting among F2 generation continued till a breed with steady & uniform characters evolved which was named as "Kashmir Merino".
        The breed is comparable to some of the finest wool breeds of the world with fiber diameter of 20-24 Microns, besides attaining higher birth weaning & adult body weight.

Some traits of economic importance of Kashmir Merino are as under:

Characteristics of some local/Indigenous Sheep

            The Department established sheep breeding farms at different locations for under taking cross breeding & other research programmes on scientific lines. Rams are being produced in these farms for serving the private flocks for their up gradation. Presently the Department runs 8 such farms in the various districts of the valley.
            Simultaneously sheep Extension Centers were opened at length & breadth of the state to facilitate cross breeding & genetic improvement of local livestock, and other technical programmes like Castrations, Lamb markings, Docking, Health cover, Mechanical shearing & Education of farmers about Scientific farming practices. The Department has so far distributed about 29000 breeding rams produced in its farms for crossbreeding in private flocks. Importation of livestock was also made on many occasions & breeds like Russian Stavropol, Rambouillet, Corriedale & Merino's were imported from countries like USSR, USA & New Zealand for introducing the blood into the local livestock. Corriedale a dual purpose breed known for producing more wool and lamb has been introduced in belts of Shopian and Sonawari and reared in orchards and silvipastoral practices are encouraged.

EVOLUTION OF KASHMIR MERINO