Two Patanwadi sheep grazing in the grasslands

Patanwadi sheep are tall and sturdy with dark brown hair on the face. The Patanwadi are indigenous to Gujarat. The quality of the wool they produce is significantly better than the mix sheep breeds such as Dumma or Marwadi. While it is the best producer of wool, the pastoralists do not prefer to breed Patanwadi sheep because there is no notable value of its wool as the overall demand of indigenous wool in the economy is decreasing. it is increasingly become a liability for them because they do not produce as good quality milk or meat. It is estimated that there are less than 5000 pure Patanwadi sheep left. Conservation efforts are urgently needed and grassroots organisations are working with the primary producers to change the course.