Small ruminants play an important role in Indian economy and are a source of livelihood and employment to millions of rural households. It contributes around 8.5% to the total value of output from livestock sector at current prices (2011-12). Sheep and goats in India are predominantly maintained on natural vegetation on common grazing lands, wastelands and uncultivated (fallow) lands, stubbles of cultivated crops and top feeds. The study is conducted in Tumakuru, Chitradurga, Belagavi and Kalaburagi districts of Karnataka. Total sample size of 120 respondents consisting 60 sheep farmers and 60 goat farmers were selected for the study. The technique of tabular analysis, compound growth rate analysis and garret ranking were used to know growth trend and prioritise the constraints. The findings of the study revealed that the annual growth in sheep (1.13%) and goat (0.73%) population in India increased marginally during 1990 to 2012. Similar trend of growth was observed in Tumakuru, Chiradurga, Belagavi and Kalaburagi district and Karnataka state as a whole. Majority of the farmers are having kaccha type of shed for rearing sheep (41.66%) and goat (80%). The per annum employment generated under sheep and goat farming were 552 man-days and 505 mandays labour respectively. Non availability of grazing land with high cost of feed, especially during summer, incidence of PPR, ET and FMD diseases were the major constraints in sheep and goat rearing as perceived by the farmer.
