The Damani sheep is a dual-purpose breed of domestic sheep from Pakistan. It is mainly found in the Dera Ismail Khan district and part of Bannu district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.
Generally the sheep breeds in Pakistan are categorized as thin tailed and fat tailed. And native sheep genetic resources are subjected to threats of extinction, mainly due to extensive and widespread cross breeding.
Total numbers of this breed has decreased from over a million in 1986 to approximately 600000 in 2006. However, read some more information about the Damani sheep below.
Damani Sheep Characteristics
The Damani sheep are small to medium sized animals, generally with white colored body. They have a black or tan colored head and camel colored legs. Their ears are small, and the udder and teats of the ewes are well developed.
Average body height of the mature rams is around 61 cm at the withers, and around 53 cm for the ewes.
Average live body weight of the mature Damani rams is around 32 kg. And the fully grown ewes on average weight around 27 kg. Photo and info from Oklahoma State University and Wikipedia.
Uses
The Damani sheep are dual-purpose animals. They are raised for both meat and wool production.
Special Notes
The Damani sheep are strong animals. They are well adapted and do well in their local environments. As a dual-purpose animal, the breed is raised for both meat and wool production.
The wool yield is about 1.5 kg with coarse fiber. The rams on average weight around 2.7 kg at birth, and the ewes around 2.5 kg with an average litter size is one.
The ewes are also pretty good milk producers, with an average milk production of around 80 kg during lactation.
Their lactation period is about or over 120 days. The milk is of pretty good quality with around 5.8 percent fat.
The breed is also very good for quality meat production. However, review full breed profile of the Damani sheep in the following chart.
| Breed Name | Damani |
| Other Name | None |
| Breed Purpose | Meat and wool |
| Special Notes | Strong animals, well adapted to their local climates, dual-purpose animals, good for both meat and wool production, average litter size is one, ewes are pretty good milk producers |
| Breed Size | Small to medium |
| Weight | Mature rams body weight is around 32 kg, and average live body weight of the mature ewes is around 27 kg |
| Horns | Yes |
| Climate Tolerance | Local climates |
| Color | White |
| Rarity | Common |
| Country/Place of Origin | Pakistan |
