Gaddi and Rampur Bushahari breeds are being reared by Gaddi community in Himachal Pradesh. The wool produced by these local sheep in the State has been considered to be the best in the Country, so far as the quality of indigenous sheep wool is concerned.

Original home of Breed Rampur Bushahri is Rampur Bushar Sub Division of District Shimla. Majority of sheep are migratory.

Gaddi breed is an old breed with obscure origin presumed to have descended from ancient Asiatic sheep and brought to this area by Gaddi tribes. This breed of sheep derives its name from the community that rears it. By and large Gaddi's possess marginal land holdings in the hills. Due to division in families, extension of agriculture and the pasture limitation the erstwhile bigger size flocks have given place to small and medium flocks. Generally the flock strength per sheep rearing family ranges from 50-100 sheep. Individual holdings may be just 25-30 sheep only. A couple of Gaddis still own over 500 sheep each in various pockets. Gaddi sheep are migratory, on their to and fro movement to the summer pasture the Gaddis halt for a month or so in their home tract to feed the sheep on the after math and stubbles of harvested crop and to receive lambing.

Distribution:

Chamba, Kangra, Kulu, Bilaspur, Simla, Kinnaur and lahaul and Spiti in Himachal Pradesh and Dehradun, Nainital, Tehrigarhwal and Chamoli hill districts in Uttar Pradesh.

Numbers:

Climate:

Mountainous ranges with the altitude varying from 3500 to 5000 m. The area is mostly cold and arid.

Breed Characteristics: (Goat)

	Adult males	Adult females
Body weight	27.45	24.72
Body length	69.5	65.2
Height at withers	61.3	58.1
Chest girth	72.2	69.3

Conformation:

Medium-sized animals. Coat color is mostly white, but black and brown and combinations of these are also seen. Both sexes have large horns, directed upward and backward and occasionally twisted. Ears are medium long and drooping. The nose line is convex. The udder is small and rounded, with small teats placed laterally. The hair is white, lustrous and long.

Flock structure:

Flock size ranges from 20 to 500. Reproduction: Essentially single, twinning occurs in only 15 to 20% of births.

Performance:

Milk (g.)	380
Hair
Average fleece yield per clip (g)s	300
Medullation (%)	74.48
Average fiber diameter (µ)	73.4