Tsigai breed of sheep: description and characteristics, rules of keeping

One of the best breeds of sheep, which is an excellent source of meat and high quality wool, is considered Tsigai. In addition, these animals are famous for their attractive appearance, endurance, fertility. The Tsigay breed of sheep is distinguished by high productivity, which allows breeding in two directions: meat-wool and wool-meat.

History of the breed

The ancestors of the Tsigai breed are considered to be fine-fleeced sheep that lived on the territory of Asia Minor before our era. For several centuries, local residents have worked to improve the qualities of the breed, trying, as far as possible, to increase productivity and at the same time maintain the endurance of animals.

Mass breeding of the breed began in Europe at the end of the 18th century. Tsigai sheep appeared on Russian soil at the beginning of the 19th century thanks to emigrants. Since then, the locals began to cross the Tsigay rams with Merino females.

Thus, the characteristics of animal fur were improved. The next generation was mixed with sheep brought from Bulgaria.

Modern representatives of the breed are divided into two groups:

1. Wool and meat (Crimean type).
2. Meat-wool (Azov type). The breed was obtained by crossing the Tsigai with the English Romney March.

Appearance and characteristics of sheep

Regardless of which group the animals belong to, representatives of both varieties have common external features:

1. The body of the representatives of the breed is strong, muscular, has a barrel-shaped appearance. The chest is wide and deep. Sizes are average. The body expands in the area of the back and withers.
2. The skeleton is durable.
3. The tail is thin, long.
4. The limbs are strong, even, of medium length. The hooves are strong enough to support a large body mass: the weight of an adult ram varies from 75 to 85 kilograms (often up to 100), and females can weigh from 45 to 50 kilograms.
5. Head of medium size oval. Males have large swirling horns. Females don't.
6. The neck is thick, short.
7. The skin is smooth, elastic. At the same time, in the cubs, it gathers in folds, which disappear as they grow.
8. Wool is white, thick, uniform, strong, practically does not roll.

On average, this breed has a life expectancy of 12 to 14 years.

Pros and cons of the Tsigai breed

The Tsigai breed boasts many positive qualities, including:

• endurance;
• ability to get used to new living conditions;
• attractive appearance;
• high productivity (sheep produce quality wool, meat and milk);
• rapid growth;
• early puberty.

Wool from Tsigai sheep is used to make warm fur garments. In addition, it lends itself well to staining in the desired color. Animal fleece serves as a raw material for the production of soft threads, from which durable fabrics are later created.

The shortcomings of the Tsigai breed are called:

1. The need for pastures, which are located on high ground (sheep do not do well in pens). The lowlands are not suitable, as animals there become infected with helminthiasis (fascioliasis, dictyocalosis and other similar diseases).
2. Low female fecundity.
3. Despite the fact that the breed knows how to adapt to different weather conditions, it does not tolerate frost and precipitation. Therefore, in winter, sheep are kept in sheepfolds.
4. Animals are prone to disease if kept in damp climates.
5. Increased bone fragility.

Rules for keeping and caring for animals

Tsigai breed is not too demanding on the conditions of maintenance and care. However, it is important to consider the following nuances:

• lack of nutrition, lack of vitamins and minerals lead to deterioration of the coat;
• sheep need special care in winter, as they do not tolerate low temperatures;
• in summer, animals graze on pastures, where they spend time from morning until dark;
• during the middle of the day the sheep are herded into a watering stall;
• Regular meals and access to water must be ensured;
• in the cold season and during prolonged rains, animals are transferred to special buildings with clay floors, thickly covered with straw, and wooden walls;
• sheep room should be warm and dry; lack of drafts and ventilation is important;
• drinkers and feeders should be located inside;
• need separate pens for ewes and newborn lambs;
• important to keep water clean and feed fresh;
• free space for each animal is 3 square meters;
• in winter you need to take the sheep for a walk - preferably every day, if it is not very cold and there is no snowfall;
• when the weather warms up, the transition to a new mode occurs gradually - on the first day, a walk in the pasture lasts 2-3 hours, and every day this time increases.

Diet

The Tsigai breed is very demanding on nutritional conditions - the quality and quantity of food. The diet is formed depending on the sex, age and degree of fattening of the animal. In summer, animals feed on green grass in pastures. The daily norm for an adult male is about 10 kilograms of grass, for a female - up to 8 kilograms.

It is enough for young individuals to eat about 6 kilograms of food per day. It is advisable to supplement the diet with legumes and grains. Sheep need to drink regularly.

In winter, when females bear cubs, food should be full and varied:

• hay;
• vegetables and root crops;
• compound feed;
• mineral supplements.

Subtleties of sheep breeding

Animals are brought together at the end of August-beginning of September. Bearing offspring lasts approximately 150 days. After lambing, the feeding period begins, which lasts four months (during this time, one female gives 100-120 liters of milk).

Among other breeding features of Tsigai sheep are:

• females become sexually mature at four months;
• calves are born once a year, in winter;
• delivery lasts about an hour;
• sheep brings 1-2 lambs at a time;

Mating is carried out only when the female gains weight over 40 kilograms.

Diseases affecting the breed

If the rules of care are not followed, representatives of this breed can get sick. Common pathologies among Tsigai sheep include:

• helminthiasis (when animals use low-quality grass);
• brittle bones (due to a poor diet lacking in minerals);
• hoof rot (appears when grazing sheep in wetlands, as well as when sanitary requirements are not met);
• pneumonia (if sheep live in a damp climate, constantly exposed to drafts, and also if they are sheared prematurely).

Habitats

The ability to adapt to different climatic conditions made it possible to breed breeds in many countries. Animals are successfully raised in Slovakia, Russia, Poland, Australia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan. In Russia, Tsigai sheep are bred in Rostov, Saratov, Orenburg and other regions.

In the northern regions, it is allowed to keep sheep in warm sheepfolds. Tsigay sheep are a sought-after breed valued for high meat and wool productivity, as well as endurance and ability to adapt to a new environment. The breed also has a number of disadvantages, but the positive aspects still prevail over them.

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