A rare breed: The Vembur sheep is easily recognisable from its medium-sized drooping ears, short thin tails, and tall lean bodies. It relies entirely on natural grazing grounds, not on commercial cattle fodder.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Tamil Nadu InFocus
In the grazing lands of Thoothukudi and Virudhunagar districts thrives the Vembur sheep (‘Pottu aadu’). The name comes from its unique coat pattern, featuring white fur adorned with irregular reddish brown patches, and in rare cases black fawn patches. These distinct markings set them apart from other sheep breeds in India.
The Vembur sheep is one of Tamil Nadu’s five indigenous hair sheep breeds, alongside Madras Red, Macheri, Chevvadu, and Kilakarasal. Its medium-sized drooping ears, short thin tails, and tall lean bodies make them easily recognisable. It also holds significant cultural and economic importance for farmers who depend on them for their livelihood. But this treasured breed faces a threat to its very existence: the proposed SIPCOT industrial project in Thoothukudi district.
Official recognition
For generations, the Vembur sheep have been an integral part of Tamil Nadu’s pastoral landscape. According to the FAO Animal Production and Health Paper 30 (1982), prepared by Acharya R.M., the breed’s population was 0.262 m in 1972, and it slightly declined to 0.251 m in 1977 (0.029 m adult males and 0.142 m adult females). Recognising its uniqueness, the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources officially registered the breed in 2007.
The breed is distributed across the northern part of Thoothukudi district — Vembur, Ettayapuram, Nagalapuram, and Keelakarandhai — and parts of Virudhunagar district. However, the purest form of the breed is concentrated in the Pudur union of Thoothukudi.
Another significant quality of the breed is that it does not rely on commercial cattle fodder, but entirely on natural grazing grounds. During 6-8 hours of grazing, it feeds on native grasses such as touch-me-not (Mimosa pudica), Quail grass (Celosia argentea), and Crowfoot grass (Eleusine Indica). The breed’s natural resilience and adaptability to dry climate makes it ideal for the rain-fed agricultural regions. Farmers rarely provide shelters, as the sheep thrives in the open.
Breeding typically occurs after the northeast monsoon, and unlike other commercial breeds, its reproductive cycle is slower, with each female producing only one lamb per cycle. The natural breeding method has contributed to maintaining the purity of the breed. A massive industrial project, under the SIPCOT, is set to take over around 1,000 acres of land at Vembur. The land includes the fertile grazing land that has supported the Vembur breed for years.
A. Varadharajan, president, the Karisal Bhoomi Farmers Association, says that with no grazing grounds, the sheep will be left without food, forcing farmers to either give up their livestock or switch to other activities.
“The majority of the families in the village have built their livelihood around this breed. It has played a significant role in improving their economic conditions, educating their children and transforming their lifestyle,” he adds. According to a 2009 study published in The Indian Journal of Animal Sciences, the estimated population of the sheep in Thoothukudi and Virudhunagar districts stood at 31,000 in 1998. The average flock size was 38.6, comprising one ram (adult male), 24.5 ewes (adult female), and 13.1 lambs.
Thangaraj, another local farmer, highlights the pride this breed has brought to the region. He says the sheep gained major recognition during the 1980s; since then, its market value has steadily increased. “Today, a pair of the sheep goes for ₹18,000-₹20,000, but the implementation of the industrial project in the region will affect the sheep.”
Population steady
With the population being steady in recent years, conservationists had hoped that this breed would continue to thrive. However, the biologists warn that the disruption to their grazing grounds could reverse the gain. While a government farm in Sattur has been working on conserving the breed, it cannot replace the vast open space the breed requires for survival and breeding.
S. Sanjeeviraj, Regional Joint Director of Animal Husbandry, Thoothukudi, says the breed is exceptionally suitable for farmers because of its adaptability and rapid growth. “The average weight of the lamb at birth is around 3 kg to 3.5 kg, and it goes up to nearly 20 kg in 6 to 8 months,” he adds. He also highlights the breed’s complete dependence on grazing land for food, and the challenges it will face if this land is taken for the project.
The breed’s unique resilience, genetic traits, and deep-rooted connection with the land make it irreplaceable. Losing it to industrial expansion would mean erasing part of the region’s agricultural identity. Adding to the crisis is the declining interest among younger generations in livestock and farming. Experts fear the breed may dwindle rapidly if immediate action is not taken.
Published – April 10, 2025 10:16 pm IST