Rough-wooled sheep breeds: the names of the best and how to choose

Sheep breeding is reviving in Russia after a period of stagnation. Today it is actively developed in the republics of Transcaucasia, in the south of the country, as well as in the central part. Coarse-haired breeds of domestic sheep are considered universal. Animals are distinguished by endurance and high rates of products obtained from them. What is it and what breeds of such sheep are best to breed?

General information about coarse wool sheep

Animals of this group give poor quality wool. They have a heterogeneous coat, where fluff, awn and transitional hair are randomly mixed. In addition, sheep are difficult to comb out, and therefore the hairs that have fallen out remain in a thick downy cover.Raw material is obtained from it for the industrial production of sheepskin, leather, smushka, felt.

Coarse-wool breeds are used for the production of cloth, carpets, felting and knitting threads. The skins of young individuals are used to make hats, coats, and collars. Processed sheepskin is used for outerwear and leather goods.

However, the main direction of this branch of sheep breeding is not getting wool at all. On the contrary, sheep are a source of valuable food - fatty high-calorie meat, milk, lard. Milk is used to make cottage cheese, cheese and other cheeses.

Rough-wooled sheep breeds

Animals in this category are classified by performance into five groups:

1. Smushkov category. The wool of these individuals is soft, durable, light in weight and beautiful in appearance. The main representatives are sheep of the Karakul breed. They are unpretentious and suitable for keeping in arid regions.
2. Subno-meat group. Females are highly fertile and reach sexual maturity early. A minimum of 2 lambs are brought per pregnancy. The best fur coats are made from the sheepskin of Romanov sheep. It perfectly warms in frosts and retains its presentation for a long time.
3. Meat and greasy category. Animals are distinguished by a powerful constitution and good adaptability to keeping on pastures, as well as a high level of meat and tallow productivity. They are able to accumulate fat reserves at the root of the tail, which are commonly called fat tail. The Edilbaev and Hissar breeds are considered the best representatives.
4. Meat-wool group. The main representative is sheep of the Kuchugur breed. Animals bring high quality wool, and the cut from one individual reaches 7 kg. But their meat is dry, and the taste is lower than that of other sheep. A clear difference from relatives is a long tail and large size: a ram - up to 100 kg, a sheep - up to 80 kg.
5. Meat-wool-milk category. Coarse and hard animal hair is used to make shoes, cloaks and hats. Representatives of the Karachay breed are distinguished by nutritious, tasty meat and high milk production. In the Caucasus, the milk and cheese of these sheep are especially appreciated.

How to choose the right breed

The question of choice depends on the region and the purpose of sheep breeding. For example, Romanov sheep are relatively inexpensive to purchase, but their meat is valued only in central Russia. It is better for the inhabitants of the Caucasus to start breeding Karachai lambs, which are loved by the highlanders for their calorie content and delicate taste.

Farmers from the southern, arid regions should focus on unpretentious breeds - Edilbaevskaya, Gissarskaya. And northerners, on the contrary, choose animals with warm wool and large fat reserves - Romanov, Welsh.

If the priority is to obtain wool, not meat, then any breed of coarse-haired type is adequate. If, on the contrary, Romanov, Gorky, Kuibyshev, North Caucasian breeds are worthy of attention.

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