Fat-tailed ram: description and how they appeared, top 5 breeds and their characteristics

The fat-tailed domestic ram is an amazing sight. Nature has endowed the animal with a unique ability to accumulate nutrients for the future. This mechanism allows the pet to survive difficult times. The ancient nomads noticed in time the unusual property of the sheep. As a supplier of meat, fat, milk and wool, the fat-tailed animal is of particular value to humans.

Origin

Furnily rams have long been popular in Asian countries. In those distant times, the territory of Central Asia was inhabited by nomads. For eternal travelers, there was the only available trade - livestock breeding.The people faced a difficult task, because the arid climate and lack of water negatively affected the quality of the grass, so it was difficult to keep livestock.

As a result of evolution, animals have appeared that can live on poor food for a long time, but at the same time quickly gain weight and store fat. Thus, people received a lot of meat, wool and valuable tail fat. With the help of the latter, travelers managed to preserve meat for a long time. The fat acted as a preservative.

In Europe, animals were not popular - the difference in climatic conditions and the mentality of people affected.

Today fat-tailed sheep are found in the North Caucasus, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Crimea and Afghanistan. Increasingly, rams are found in the farms of North Africa. Due to their specificity, sheep have not gained distribution in European countries, in addition, animals are poorly adapted to modern animal husbandry methods.

General description and characteristics

From the curly-haired counterparts of the fat-tailed sheep, fat deposits concentrated in the sacrum are distinguished. These fat reserves form a large bag - fat tail. Its dimensions depend on the species and sex of the animal, the weight of the fat tail freely reaches 5-10 kg. Kurdyuk contains many useful substances, moisture and nutritious fat. Like camels, pets can use natural storage in case of drought or famine.

Fat tail fat is strikingly different from the interior fat supplied by ordinary animals. It melts easily, has a nice buttery texture, and is he althier than regular lard.

Representatives of different breeds of fat-tailed animals have common features and characteristics:

1. Sheep are impressive in size. The growth of a breeding ram reaches 100-110 cm, the female grows up to 80-90 cm.
2. Kurdyuk is an integral part of the body of all representatives of an unusual species of sheep.
3. Pets are very massive. The weight of the male often reaches 150 kg, the ewe gains about 60 kg. Lambs rapidly gain weight and reach 40 kg by the age of 1.5.
4. Most of the time, the animals are polled (hornless), but occasionally come across with horns.
5. The narrow hook-nosed head and drooping long ears give the pet a touching look.
6. Coarse, bristly, devoid of fluff.
7. The tail of the animal is modest in size, only 8-10 cm.
8. The color of the pet is often red or light brown. White, black or gray individuals are often found.

Fat-tailed rams are genetically adapted to a scarce food supply, so they easily manage with stunted vegetation and, like many centuries ago, roam with their owners.

Breeds of fat-tailed rams

In places where fat-tailed animals are traditionally bred, there are many varieties of unusual sheep. Some of them are especially popular:

1. Hissar sheep. Animals are successfully bred on the territory of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Massive handsome men rarely get sick and quickly gain weight. Reddish-brown and black rams are more common. The wool is very hard, rough. The ewe easily gains 86-89 kg, the mass of an adult ram reaches 150 kg. For one shearing, about 2 kg of wool is removed from a pet.
2. Edilbaev sheep. Edilbaev rams are distinguished by strong bones, but they are slightly smaller than representatives of the Hissar breed. The maximum weight of males reaches 120 kg, females gain 57-60 kg. Edilbayevs are found in the vastness of Kazakhstan, Bashkiria and Tatarstan. Successfully breed pets in the Saratov region. The wool of rams is dyed dark red or black.Each time, up to 3 kg of raw materials are sheared from a pet. The meat of young animals has a delicate taste. During lactation, ewes give up to 100-110 liters of fatty nutritious milk. Pets of black color are superior to red relatives in terms of the size of the fat tail and the amount of wool.
3. Kalmyk breed. Animals are common in the farms of Mongolia and China. The mass of a ram does not exceed 115 kg, a sheep weighs 73-75 kg. The breed is famous for its excellent meat quality and soft coat structure. The best raw materials are taken from black and white pets. Each cut brings up to 4 kg of fleece.
4. Saraja sheep. The Saradzha sheep has become widespread in Turkmenistan. Pets cannot boast of large sizes (ram weight - up to 90 kg, sheep - up to 59 kg), but they give high-quality wool. From each cut, the owners receive 2-3 kg of fleece.
5. Tushino breed. Half-tailed sheep are found mainly on the territory of Georgia. The animal is well built, hardy, rarely gets sick. The weight of an adult ram reaches 70 kg, the ewe gains 37-40 kg.A distinctive feature of pets is a fat tail that looks like a plump pillow. Tushinos have a wavy, elastic coat. The hairline grows up to 25 cm and contains up to 70% fluff. The rest of the fleece contains guard and transitional hairs. Each cut from one pet brings up to 4 kg of raw materials. Sheep milk and meat are of excellent quality.

Pros and cons

Cultivation of fat-tailed sheep is a promising business that promises considerable earnings. However, before starting work, you need to take into account all the advantages and disadvantages of animals.

Pros and consAnimals are extremely hardy. They are not afraid of long distances, the vagaries of the weather and changes in air temperature.Lambs are content with meager pasture food.Sheep instantly gain weight. Already by the age of six months, the lamb is gaining up to 50 kg. Under adverse conditions, the weight and appearance of the pet does not suffer. The lamb makes up for the lack of nutrients from its storage - fat tail.Ewes easily tolerate childbirth.Each individual gives an impressive amount of wool.A fat-tailed animal immediately gives 3 useful products: milk, meat and lard.Females are not very fertile. This quality must be taken into account when forming a herd.Poor wool quality. Raw materials are used for the manufacture of felt products (plaids, felt boots, carpets, blankets).The animal is completely helpless, poorly oriented in open areas.

Rules of maintenance and care

In the warm season, pets are sent to pasture. There they spend most of their lives. Pasture should not be arranged in marshy places, otherwise the animals will feed on plants growing on acidic soil. Such food inevitably leads pets to severe poisoning. In case of bad weather, a canopy is arranged for the wards. Pets spend the night there.

With the onset of frost, the rams are moved to a warm shed.Any spacious, and most importantly, dry room is suitable for pets. Sheep quarters must be protected from harmful drafts and provided with good ventilation. Otherwise, pets are at risk of suffering from ammonia fumes.

Separate compartments are built for pregnant and lactating ewes with lambs. It should be warmer here than in the room for the rest of the pets. Newborn lambs feel good at a temperature of 16 degrees. The air temperature in the main shed should not fall below +10 degrees.

The floor is covered with dry grass or sawdust. This bedding needs to be changed daily. The stalls are equipped with comfortable drinkers. The water must be changed twice a day. The premises are cleaned daily. Periodically, animals are examined by a veterinarian.The specialist assesses the condition of the sheep and conducts routine vaccination. In summer, the lambs are bathed. Water procedures are performed no more than 1 time in 1.5 months. A couple of times a year, pets are sheared and their hooves are trimmed. Sheep wool is regularly treated against all kinds of parasites.

What to feed animals

In the summer, the wards are happy to graze. In winter, animals are transferred to a home diet. In the morning, pets are treated with solid food, lunch consists of concentrates, and in the evening, pets are content with hay. Experts forbid giving sugar beets to wards. The treat can cause diabetes in pets. You can not treat sheep with frozen vegetables - the use of these products threatens animals with death.

Subtleties of breeding

Sheep reach sexual maturity at 6-7 months. For successful breeding, a herd contains a pair of sires. For mating, he althy, tall individuals are selected. The gestation period lasts 5 months.As a rule, childbirth is easy and painless. The newborn lamb is examined, the baby's nose and mouth are cleared of mucus, and then returned to the mother. At one time, a sheep brings 1-2 cubs. After 2 days, the lamb confidently moves after the mother.

What do they get sick with?

Despite their enviable stamina, pets can get sick. If you detect signs of illness in time and contact a veterinarian, many troubles can be avoided.

1. Helminthiasis. Pets often become victims of worms that parasitize on the internal organs of pets. The diagnosis is made on the basis of test results. Symptoms of the disease: depression, poor appetite, diarrhea, hair falls out in small pieces. Antiparasitic agents are used for treatment.
2. Scar flatulence. One of the most common ailments in pets. The cause of the disease lies in the improper feeding of the wards.Symptoms: bloating and sharp hardening of the abdomen, loss of appetite, anxiety. If help is not provided in time, the animal will die. The problem is solved with a rubber probe. This simple tool removes accumulated gas and undigested food.
3. Poisoning. Trouble happens as a result of eating poisonous plants by a ram. Symptoms: high fever, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite. Treatment consists in emergency gastric lavage with a special solution. The remedy is prepared from 0.5 cup of vegetable oil, 0.5 l of water and 50 g of s alt.

The use of fat tail in cosmetology and medicine

Fat tail fat has long been successfully used for the production of cosmetics. Useful substances help to smooth and rejuvenate the delicate skin of the face.

Salo is used in the fight against colds. It is added to herbal decoctions, and is also used for wrapping procedures.Unlike interior fat, the contents of the fat tail are not s alted. Fat tail fat successfully copes with diseases of the liver and gallbladder. The tool has a positive effect on potency, relieves ulcers and gastritis, and also reduces blood sugar levels. Fat tail fat contains a record amount of vitamins and amino acids.

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