The Sheep Breeding Research Station, Sandynallah of the Nilgiris district was established during the year 1950. It has a land area of 708.67 acres, of which of about 350 acres is maintained as natural grassland. The topography of the lands is of undulating hills at an altitude of 2090-2235 meters above mean sea level. The Station enjoys a salubrious temperate climate for nine months in a year. High monsoon winds and rains prevail for three months in a year. The temperature ranges from 0-24ºC and the annual rainfall ranges from 800 to 3000 mm.
The research station in its seventy five years of existence had three different mandates in various phases. In the first phase (1950-72), the mandate was to improve the meat characteristics of Nilagiri sheep through crossbreeding with exotic dual-purpose sheep breeds. In the second phase (1973-90), the mandate was to improve the wool yield and quality of Nilagiri sheep by crossbreeding with Merino and Rambouillet sheep. In the next and current phase, the mandate was to increase the Litter size by twinning of sheep.
When working with livestock breeds habituating a small geographical region, there is always a risk of dilution of breeds through crossbreeding and other local factors and the breeds would become numerically reduced sooner than later, requiring effective conservation measures. This research station has involved in the conservation project of the livestock breeds of this hill viz., Nilagiri sheep and Toda buffalo.
Breed Profile: The Nilagiri breed of sheep is a short saturated wooly breed, inhabiting the hilly regions of the Nilagiri district in Tamil Nadu. It has a crossbred base and has unknown proportions of inheritance of Coimbatore, Tasmanian Merino, Cheviot and South Down breeds. The breed was evolved during the nineteenth century. Both males and females are polled with a few males having a horn spur.
Conservation of Nilagiri sheep with mixed gene pool was established at the Research Station by selecting the base flock from the farm and bringing in new blood from many of the existing farmer’s flock. Presently a population of about 300 sheep of Nilagiri breed is maintained at this Station as a conservation measure.
The Toda buffaloes of the Nilgiris are of special type, resembling wild buffaloes with savagery qualities. The reproductive rate in she-buffaloes is limited by non-availability of breeding bulls in most of the herds, a situation arising from the fact the adult bulls live only as feral bulls in the forest. To overcome this
Breed development is a strenuous process requiring careful selection of purebreds /crossbreds over generations which has to be continuously and consistently applied to get the final product. On both these occasions the research station has successfully conducted the crossbreeding experiments. Experiments on cross breeding Merinos/ Rambouillet with Nilagiri sheep has resulted in the development of a highly adaptive breed to the local temperate conditions of this region which has been named as “Sandyno”.
Breed Profile: The Sandyno breed was developed at Sheep Breeding Research Station, Sandynallah by crossing Merino / Rambouillet and 3/8th inheritance of Nilagiri sheep. The males are either polled or horned and the females are polled.
A cross breeding programme using Dorset Rams with Nilagiri ewes (1993-2012) resulting in a synthetic breed (DORNI) with better meat quality traits was released during the year 2013.
Breed Profile: The Nilagiri breed of sheep had adapted over years to the Nilagiri hills of Tamil Nadu. It is a fine wool variety and is more valued for meat rather than wool. A cross-breeding programme to improve the meat characteristics of Nilagiri sheep was initiated at Sheep Breeding Research Station, Sandynallah. Polled Dorset Sheep were crossed to Nilagiri ewes in a phased manner over a period of 17 years and a separate genetic group with uniform type and conformation has been evolved. The level of Dorset inheritance in the new genetic group is about 50 per cent.
The number of lambs born per ewe has major effect on the economic efficiency of the sheep production systems and is largely determined by ovulation rate. The litter size is the reflection of ovulation rate. High litter size was attained by selecting highly prolific breeding stock based on the presence of fecundity genes responsible for increased ovulation rate and high litter size helps in reducing the time taken for increasing the fecundity in small ruminants. Three important (Fecundity genes from the TGFβ superfamily in sheep, Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptor type IB (BMPR1B) or FecB)
This Research Station was one among the coordinating centre for a Government of India Scheme on “Bio-Tech Centre of Fec-B genes” which was started during the year 2012-13. The objective of this scheme is introgression of a fecundity gene (Fec -B) from Garole sheep to Sandyno sheep to improve fecundity in Sandyno sheep and to study the effect of FecB genotype on prolificacy, growth, reproductive and weaning rates. The details of 1st generation and 2nd generation crossbred lambs with Fec B introgression were furnished below:
| Fec B | Garole Sandyno cross 1st generation | Garole Sandyno cross 2nd generation | Total | ||
| Male | Female | Male | Female | ||
| Homozygous for Fec B (BB) | 12 | 23 | 105 | 108 | 248 |
| Heterozygous for Fec B (B+) | 115 | 128 | 170 | 169 | 582 |
| Total | 127 | 151 | 275 | 277 | 830 |
| Breed | Number of animals | ||||
| Young | Adult | Total | |||
| M | F | M | F | ||
| Sheep | |||||
| Nilagiri | 56 | 66 | 41 | 154 | 317 |
| Sandyno | 36 | 55 | 24 | 116 | 231 |
| Dorset X Nilagiri cross | 12 | 7 | 21 | 33 | 73 |
| GS & Nari Swarna | - | - | - | 3 | 3 |
| Garole X Sandyno cross (G2S & G2SF) | 45 | 58 | 21 | 122 | 246 |
| Sandyno Multiple cross | 22 | 28 | 25 | 54 | 129 |
| Total | 171 | 214 | 132 | 482 | 999 |
| Goat | |||||
| Crossbred Goat | 25 | 22 | 13 | 45 | 105 |
| Grand Total | 1104 |
As a part of “Enhanced Technological Strategies for Sustainable Backyard Poultry Production in Nilgiris District” scheme (Sponsored by NBAGR), input distribution function was conducted at Arakkadu and Kakkan Nagar villages of Coonoor block, Nilgiris on 30.03.25. The function was inaugurated by the then Director, CAPS, TANUVAS followed by distribution of 10 Nos. of 4-weeks old native chicks, 8 kg of chick starter feed and 25 sq.ft. of weld mesh to each beneficiary. A total of 160 beneficiaries were benefitted and they were given a detailed training program on the backyard poultry rearing and management.
Goats have been introduced in Sheep Breeding Research Station with a prime objective of evolving a new breed of goat that will thrive well in hilly tracts of the district and for eradicating / utilizing the widespread Ulex bush as a fodder, so as to make it a profitable resource. Initially a stock of 50 goats were purchased from farmers of the Nilgiris district for the establishment of goat section in the station in the year 2021-22.
As part of “Tribal Community Participatory Breeding Approach of the Endangered Toda Buffalo in the Nilgiris Hills for its Sustainability” Scheme, Third Toda Annual Mega Cultural event cum Exhibition was celebrated on 24.02.2026 at SBRS Auditorium, The Nilgiris. Dr. M. Murugan, Director, Centre for Animal Production Studies, TANUVAS presided over the function. Dr. S. Meenakshisundaram, Professor and Head, LFC delivered guest lecture. Dr.S.M.K. Karthickeyan, Principal Investigator for Toda Scheme & Controller of Examinations welcomed the gathering. Around 80 Toda tribal farmers were selected as beneficiary and inputs viz., emergency medical kit, milk can, milk measuring jar and calf feed were distributed. Best Toda buffalo Breeders award was presented to Ten Toda farmers. Dr.K.Thilak Pon Jawahar, Dr. K. Prema and Dr.J.Selvamani, Co-Principal Investigators of the project made all arrangements.
A Toda tribal farmer Mr. D.Ranjith Kuttan of Gadi Mund has been nominated by SBRS, Sandynallah has received the Breed Conservation Award from National Bureau of Animal genetic Resources, Karnal
The sales counter for the sale of TANUVAS products was inaugurated at the entrance of SBRS, Sandynallah, and has been functioning since 24.02.2026.
During the last 15 years the following projects were under taken at this station
| Sl.No. | Project | Funding Agency | Budget Outlay (Rs.In Lakhs) | Years |
| 1. | Centrally sponsored scheme on “Conservation of Threatened Breeds of Livestock – Nilagiri Sheep | Govt. of India | 20.50 | Two years (2011-2012 & 2012-2013) |
| 2. | Bio-tech center for fecundity genes | Govt. of India | 73.00 | Seven Years 2011 to 2018 |
| 3. | Veterinary Plan – Part II Empowerment of tribal women and women self-help groups through rabbit, poultry and sheep farming in the Nilgiris District | Govt. of India | 20.50 | One Year (2010-2011) |
| 4. | Veterinary Type Culture – VRC – VV, CAHS - Tribal Sub Plan | Govt. of India | 5.20 | One year (2011-2012) |
| 5. | Veterinary Type Culture – VRC – VV, CAHS - Tribal Sub Plan | Govt. of India | 5.00 | One year (2012-2013) |
| 6. | Collaborative project on “Embryo Transfer in Toda buffaloes” | NDDB, SAG, Anand | 4.26 | Two Years (2005-2006 & 2006-2007) |
| 7. | Empowerment of Toda youth in Toda buffalo conservation – an ‘ for the Toda and by the Toda approach’ | PGADMAS, Bangalore | 3.00 | Six months (Oct 2012) |
| 8. | “Effect of inclusion of Maku lotus (Lotus pedunculatus) in the diet of weaner lambs on growth performance and anthelmintic activity | TANUVAS – TRCF Project | 1.00 | One year |
| 9. | Tribal Sub Plan on “Technological empowerment of tribal farmers through adoption of TANUVAS technologies in Tamil Nadu | ICAR | 98.00 | Two years (2017-2018 & 2018-2019) |
| 10. | Tribal Community Participatory Breeding Approach of the Endangered Toda Buffalo in the Nilgiris Hills for its Sustainability | GoI-RGM-NPBB-TNLDA | 221.98 | Three Years (2022 to 2025) |
Through various projects and schemes five numbers of new sheep sheds with slatted fabric flooring were constructed at a cost of 85 lakhs. The existing sheep sheds (5 Nos.) were renovated by replacing the damaged wooden rails with fabric slatted flooring and concrete flooring to the run area at a cost of 18 lakhs. An animal handling chute with dipping tank and facilities for deworming, vaccination and other related activities were constructed at a cost of 6 lakhs.
| Name of the Faculty | Designation | Mobile# | |
|---|---|---|---|
| PASUPATHY, KARU | PROFESSOR AND HEAD | drkarupasupathy@gmail.com | 9445147863 |
| SELVAMANI,J | ASSISTANT PROFESSOR | selvanutrition@gmail.com | 9894984746 |
| HARITHA B PILLAI | ASSISTANT PROFESSOR | bpillai.haritha@gmail.com | 8281306527 |
The Head, Sheep Breeding Research Station, Sandynallah, The Nilgiris - 643 237. Phone: +91-423-2253088 sbrs@tanuvas.org.in
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