Location of study siteThe study was conducted at the farm of Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar. This area is located in a semi-arid region of sub-tropical India at longitude 75°-28°E, latitude 26°-26°N, and at altitude of 320 meter above mean sea level. The maximum and minimum ambient temperature ranges from 25.0 to 46.0°C, 17.0 to 37.0°C, respectively and mean relative humidity ranges from 15 to 90%. Adult Garole rams were transported with a flock of ewes from their natural habitat in West Bengal to the Institute farm in Rajasthan.
Experimental animalsSix healthy adult Garole rams were used as semen donors. The AI with Garole ram semen was done in Malpura and Avikalin ewes. Malpura is a triple purpose hardy sheep, which has originated from the arid and semiarid tracts of western tropical India.