The name originates from the home tract of the breed: Marwad. The breed resembles black-headed Persian sheep but is smaller in size and has good fleece.

Distribution:
------------

Jodhpur, Jalore, Nagaou, Peli and Barmer districts, extending up to Ajmer and Udaipur districts of Rajasthan and the Jeoria region of Gujarat.

Numbers:
-------

The total sheep population in the Marwari distribution area in Rajasthan and Gujarat, according to the 1972 census, was 4.367 m; in 1977 it was 5.018 m. Of these, adult males were 0.452 m and adult females 3.230 m. The breed is being improved through selection for fleece weight and carpet quality.

Climate:
-------

minimum - 22.2
maximum - 34
morning - 55.6
evening - 27.5
Annual rainfall (cm) - 35.5

Breed characteristics:
---------------------

i) Size


Conformation:
------------

Medium-sized animals. Black face, the colour extending to the lower part of neck. Ears extremely small and tubular. Both sexes are polled. Tail is short to medium and thin; tail length: 17.91 ± 0.32 cm (791). Fleece is white and not very dense.

Flock structure:
---------------

Flock size ranges from 200 to 500. On average, flocks contain 18 to 44 adult males, 129 to 323 adult females and 63 to 137 young.

Reproduction:
------------

In farmers` flocks, age at first breeding: females: 18 months; males: 12 months. Lambing percentage on the basis of ewes available (46): 87.00 (802); litter size: single.

Mortality (46):
--------------

0 to 12 months: 26.0% (353); adults: 3.43% (1 602).

Breeding:
--------

Pure breeding: Rams are selected primarily on fleece production and are produced from within owner`s flock.