List of the best meat breeds of sheep and their productivity characteristics. Facts about sheep

Sheep became famous as the oldest domestic animal. Another biblical story tells about the lambs that the Jewish patriarchs grazed. Sheep farming is a versatile industry that supplies lamb, lard, offal, milk and wool. In some regions, sheep are used as pack or fighting animals. This type of animal husbandry ranks third in the world in terms of performance. The latest statistics point to the number of sheep in the world - 1.2 billion heads.

This is what a Polish shepherd looks like

Animals are bred in the tropics, subtropics, where pastures are located (semi-fine-wool, meat-wool variations). In countries with areas of deserts and semi-deserts, sheep breeding is also developed (fine-wooled, astrakhan variant). Now the leaders in livestock are China, Australia, New Zealand, India and the UK. Sheep breeding has gained popularity in Russian Federation, Spain, Brazil and other places in the world.

Breed indicator

The livestock gene pool varies both in quantity and quality. As a result of selection, breeds appear and disappear. New groups with separate gene characteristics are being developed. More often, varieties with wool cover are used for this:

• semi-thin (50.1 percent);
• thin (42.6 percent);
• rough, semi-rough (5.9 percent).

The number of sheep without wool is 1.4 percent.

The oldest sheep with a thin fleece is the Spanish merino. 69 options were deduced from him (among which are electoral, rambouillet, infantado).

It looks like a spanish merino

The leader of the semi-fine-fleece group - leister and others English views. Only 2 new breeds were bred from semi-coarse-haired animals. Among the coarse-haired, a popular material for breeding is the Bergamas, Karakul or Romanov varieties.

To create new hairless options, we used native species from Somalia, desert from Sudan, black-headed and Wiltshire rams. Of the 1229 varieties, fifty-nine gained popularity, and their breeding spread to ten countries. Known worldwide for:

• suffolk;
• merino;
• texel;
• corridor;
• barbados.

In the photo - hairless breed Barbados

Number of breeds in districts (2006)

In the early 80s of the twentieth century, the breed number was 600 varieties. During this time, diversity has doubled. Most variants are of local origin, mostly concentrated in Europe and Asian regions (72% of varieties).

Europe

This is what a Suffolk sheep looks like

The leader in the number of varieties is Great Britain (51), followed by France (38), Italy (30), Bulgaria (25), Greece (14), Portugal (12), Spain (11), Poland (11). The most common European sheep are Suffolk (animals from England, bred for meat and shearing in 40 countries), texel (meat orientation from Holland) and merino (Spanish wool).

There are 40 million heads in the UK, it is one of the three leaders in the sale of meat.

European statistics on lamb production for last years decreased by 18.5% (in the UK - by 28.2%), as shown in the table. This is in contrast to Africa and Asia, where the mass of mutton produced has increased.

Every year Europe sells 450,000 tons of meat, produces 55% of cheeses from sheep's milk (elite varieties from France, Italy, Spain). 92% of sheep wool producing areas are located in Europe.

Asia

Asia has concentrated 40% of the world's herds, but few local varieties have spread outside the region. The Karakul breed and the Awassi gained fame.

Karakul breed is often found in Asia

Egypt (52.0%), China (40.7%), India (33.9%) are recognized as leaders in the rate of meat growth. In Mongolia, there is a sharp increase in production (25.6%). China ranks first in the world in terms of meat production (2080 thousand tons, 30% of world production), fine-fleeced varieties are also bred there. In China, over the past 20 years, meat production has grown by 3.8 times, the country is recognized as the leader in terms of milk yield.

Asian regions annually sell up to 300 thousand tons of lamb. Asia ranks third in terms of nastring (70%). The original Indian varieties are used as pack and meat-wool (baruval, bhianlung).

Valuable karakul, the skins of newborn lambs, is supplied from Central and Western Asia. 37.8% of cheeses are made in the same place.

Africa

Famous African breeds are the Fulani (meat, without wool), the West African dwarf and the black-headed Persian. On this basis, Barbados black-bellied rams, a popular variant in the world, were bred.

In Africa the most large numbers hairless varieties that are used for meat and hides. Fine-wooled animals are bred for shearing only in South Africa. In other countries, only coarse-haired ones are popular, and in Algeria and Tunisia, semi-fine-wooled varieties are also popular. Sudan owns the largest livestock (in millions) (49), followed by South Africa, Nigeria, Ethiopia (25.0-23.7).

The Barbados Blackbelly breed is found in Africa

Russia

Modern indicators of the Russian Federation differ from the data Soviet Union. In the USSR, the maximum number of herds was 150,000,000, meat production - 39 thousand tons in slaughter weight. In the period from 1990 to 2015, the livestock decreased by 82%, lamb production decreased by 6 times, shearing - by 8 times. The role in this reduction was played by the economic crisis and the acquisition of sovereignty by the traditional regions of sheep breeding in Central Asia and in the Caucasus.

But since 2013, the indicators of sheep breeding in Russia have improved, the livestock amounted to 24,337.4 thousand (together with goats). This is 13% higher than in 2012. Leaders in the number of goals are recognized North Caucasus(9531.5 thousand), Southern (6266.9 thousand) and Siberian (3757.4 thousand) districts. Russian farming is developing: in 1991, such farms accounted for 0.4% of the livestock, and in 2014 - already 10.5%.

In the absence of its own cotton production in Russia, sheep wool plays a role. Materials are supplied for the fur and fur coat industries. The range of goods that are produced from fine-fleeced and semi-fine-fleeced wool has increased. These types of sheepskins are famous for their density, uniformity and softness. Compared to 2010, by 2013 production increased by 2%. In Russia, I cut 1.61 kg per sheep (9th place in the world).

Other regions

new zealand perendale breed

Australia ranks second in lamb production after China (556 thousand tons, 123.3 million heads), and New Zealand is third (448 thousand tons, 47,700,000 heads). They account for 36.4% of the production of this meat in the world. In the US, experts note a drop in production (31.85%). Sheep breeding in Australia is almost entirely made up of wool animals (of which 81% are fine-fleece, and 76% are merino). In New Zealand, Romney, Kupvoz, Perendale are popular - producers of semi-fine crossbred wool, and Merino - 4.8%.

Australia and New Zealand get 4.26 kg and 3.76 kg, respectively, of a head cut (along with other leaders - South Africa, Argentina, Uruguay). These countries lead in the consumption of sheep flesh by the number of local residents.

AT North America(USA, Mexico, Cuba) there are 91% of the region's sheep. In South America, Brazil leads (21.4% in the region), followed by Peru (20.6%), Argentina (12.4 million heads), Uruguay (11.0 million).

Industry trends

The production of four types of products grew, but the speed was different. Compared with other indicators, data on wool over the years has decreased by 1.6 times. In recent years, the world specialization of sheep breeding for milk and meat products has increased. 95-100% of countries produce mutton, and the least woolly sheep in the US (13%) and Africa (28%).

Sheep provide 4.2% of the world's meat production and 1.6% of dairy production. 1.4 million tons of wool are sheared from the livestock annually. One person has 1.29 kg of meat, 1.70 kg of milk and 0.23 kg of wool.

In the world, the indicator for milk increased, in sheep breeding, the output increased by 16.3%. In most CIS members, the data have increased over the past ten years: in Armenia and Azerbaijan - four times, in Ukraine and Russia - 3 times, in the Republic of Moldova - 1.6 times. Abroad, sheep are milked in the Balkans, France, Italy, Greece and Spain (one third of the countries where this industry thrives).

Sheep farming during the growing energy crisis will satisfy human needs and solve social, economic and environmental problems. This is a non-waste livestock area. Meat, fat, milk are used. In industry, wool and skins are used. Application is found in sperm, bones, internal organs and dung or tendons. The share in meat production will increase by 4%. This industry will continue to play a universal role in the livestock tradition.

Igor Nikolaev

Reading time: 5 minutes

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Sheep breeding in Russia is not a popular type of business due to the traditional focus on breeding large cattle, therefore, it is represented mainly by small farms and personal subsidiary plots.

Meanwhile, the unpretentiousness and endurance of these animals make them very attractive for breeding, especially for beginner breeders. Currently, 39 breeds of sheep are bred in our country. The largest population is concentrated in the Southern and North Caucasian Federal Districts.

Number of sheep in Russia

At the end of 2015, the number of small ruminants in the country amounted to 24 million 528 thousand 400 heads.

Compared to 2014, this figure decreased by 182,800, or 0.7 percent. However, if we take the general dynamics, then over the past five years this livestock has grown in total figures by 2 million 708 thousand 600 animals (an increase of 12.5 percent), and compared to 2005, the total increase amounted to 5 million 947 thousand (or 32 .0 percent).

In addition to sheep, goats also belong to small cattle. Accurate data on the number of separately sheep and separately goats at the end of 2015 does not exist.

However, proportional dependence can be understood from the data of 2014, according to which in Russia there were 22 million 578 thousand 300 in farms of all categories, and goats, respectively, 2 million 104 thousand 500. By simple calculations, we find that the share of sheep in the total structure of the herd small cattle in our country is approximately 91.5%, and goats - 8.5%.

In the future, all figures will be given based on the total number of small ruminants (SRS) for December 2015.

The structure of the livestock of the MRS of Russia by types of farms

All livestock farms in our country can be divided into the commercial sector and personal farmsteads.

The former include all agricultural enterprises and peasant farms (peasant farms), the latter - personal livestock of citizens without registration legal entity or private enterprise.

So, according to statistics, in the commercial sector there were 12 million 938 thousand units of small cattle, or 52.7 percent of the total Russian herd of these animals.

If we trace the dynamics of this indicator over the past five and ten years, then the growth in livestock in this category of farms amounted to 22.7% (2 million 395 thousand heads) and 46.5% (4 million 107 thousand heads), respectively.

If we take personal farmsteads, then they account for the remaining 47.3% (11 million 590 thousand units), and the increase over the past five and ten years, respectively, is 314 thousand (2.8%) and 1 million 840 thousand ( 18.9%. This indicates a growing interest commercial enterprises to this livestock industry.

Geographical distribution of the livestock of small cattle in our country

If we take the number of sheep and goats by regions of our vast Motherland, then we can make the following rating:

1. The Republic of Dagestan. This region occupies the first place in Russia in terms of the number of livestock of small cattle. Its share in the all-Russian herd is 21.1 percent, or 5 million 183 thousand 800 units;
2. Republic of Kalmykia. Honorable second place with a share of 9.7% and 2 million 376 thousand 300 units. It should be noted that compared to 2014, this figure decreased by 32,600 heads or by 1.4%, although in general there has been a steady increase over the past ten years;
3. Stavropol region. This region closes the top three in our country. The share is 9.1% and the number is 2 million 230 thousand 700 units. It is worth saying that in this region the decrease in livestock compared to 2014 is quite significant - as much as 6.7% or 160,100 heads, although compared to 2005, the increase was 658,100 units or 41.9 percent;
4. Astrakhan region. 1 million 475 thousand 100 units and 6.0% of the Russian herd of small cattle;
5. Karachay-Cherkessia. The Karachay-Cherkess Republic ranks fifth with 4.9% and a livestock population of 1,203,200 MRS.

In addition, the top ten included: Rostov region (4.8%), the Republic of Tyva (4.7%), Volgograd region (3.9%), Bashkortostan (3.3%) and the Republic of Altai (2.6% ).

Based on these statistics, one cannot fail to notice an alarming trend towards a decrease in the number of these types of domestic animals, which indicates the existence of certain problems in this livestock industry.

According to the statistics of March 2016, 184 breeding agricultural enterprises for working with sheep are registered on the territory of our state.

The structure of these organizations is as follows:

• 53 breeding farms;
• 112 breeding loudspeakers;
• 15 gene pool enterprises;
• 3 hybrid breeding centers;
• 1 genetic selection center.

Breeds of sheep grown in Russia

The following sheep breed groups are listed in the tribal register of our country:

• coarse-haired. They are represented by such breeds as: Edilbaevskaya, Tushino, short-fat-tailed Tuvinian, Romanovskaya, Lezginskaya, Karachaevskaya, fat-tailed Kalmyk, Buryatskaya, Andiskaya and Aginskaya;
• smushkovo-milk. This direction is represented only by one tribal variety - Karakul;
• semi-fine-wool. There are obviously more of these breeds. This group includes: Tsigei, North Caucasian (belongs to meat-wool), Gorno-Altai, Soviet (Siberian) meat-wool, Texel (Dutch breed), Kuibyshev, South Myan and Tashlin;
• fine-fleeced - Stavropol, Soviet merino, Salskaya, Manych merino, Kulunda, fine-fleeced Caucasian, fine-fleeced Transbaikal (four types - Transbaikal, Nerchinsk, Argun and Buryat), mountain Dagestan, Grozny and Volgograd.

The total breeding herd of Russia at the beginning of 2015 consisted of 828,100 units, of which:

Statistics for varieties such as Romanov and Karakul are kept separately.

The tribal herd of Karakul sheep at that time numbered 32,300, and Romanov's - 5,600 heads.

The breeding industry, unlike other livestock industries, is self-sufficient in our country, since the level of imports of purebred animals for breeding work is quite low. For the entire 2015 under consideration, only 73 breeding individuals were brought to Russia from abroad. All of them represented the East Frisian sheep variety and came either from the Czech Republic.

If we take the year 2014, then there was no import of breeding animals from abroad at all. On the contrary, this year 23 breeding animals of the Edilbaev breed were sent from Russia (more precisely, from the Kalmyk Republic) to Armenia. The same animals were imported there in 2013 in 266 units.

If we return to imports, then the last import of purebred breeding sheep into the territory of our country was in 2012. From the same Czech Republic, 22 animals of the texel breed were imported. It is worth noting that in the same year 333 animals were exported: 233 Romanov animals - to Abkhazia, 100 Edilbaevsky - to Armenia.

The amount of small cattle meat produced in Russia

The total volume of cattle meat produced in 2015 in our country at enterprises of all categories amounted to 455,800 tons in live and 202,200 tons in slaughter weight.

These figures indicate a low yield of usable and processed product (44.4 percent), while the same figure for the best meat sheep breeds reaches 60-70 percent. If we compare the overall productivity indicator with the same in 2014, then it decreased by 3,800 tons (by 0.8 percent), although compared to 2010, the gross output increased by 46,200 tons (by 11.3 percent), and in comparison with 2005 - by 118,400 tons or by 35.1 percent.

If you decide on geography the best manufacturers of this product, the top five looks like this:

1. The Republic of Dagestan. In 2015, the production of sheep meat in this republic reached 58,400 tons in live weight and 25,900 tons in slaughter weight, which is 12.8 percent of the total Russian gross. Growth compared to 2014 amounted to 1,800 tons, or 3.2 percent;
2. Kalmykia. During the same period, 51,800 tons of live or 23,000 tons of carcass weight were produced, the share is 11.4 percent. Despite a decrease in the total number of livestock compared to 2014, meat production increased by 1,200 tons or 2.3 percent compared to the same period;
3. Stavropol region. The total volume is 39,600 tons in live and 17,600 in slaughter weight, which is 8.7 percent of the total volume of meat of small cattle in Russia. There was practically no growth compared to 2014 (by only 30 tons or 0.1 percent);
4. Bashkiria. Despite the ninth place in the total number of sheep in Russia, Bashkortostan ranks fourth in terms of sheep and goat meat produced with an indicator of 26,500 tons in live weight (5.8 percent);
5. Astrakhan region. Fifth place and 24,100 tons, or 5.3 percent.

If we continue the rating, then the places from six to ten were distributed as follows: Rostov region - 4.5 percent and 20,500 tons; Tatarstan - 4.2 percent and 19,200 tons; Volgograd region - 3.6 percent and 17,400; Karachay-Cherkessia - 3.5% and 15,800; Saratov region- 3.3% and 15,200 tons.

Most of the meat of these species was imported into the territory of our state in 2008 - 17,200 tons of the product.

After the global economic and financial crisis, which resulted in a strong devaluation of the ruble, the share of imports of these products from abroad decreased by 43.2 percent, or, in quantitative terms, by 9,800 tons.

Over the next several years, the level of imports of mutton and lamb meat was quite stable, however, after another fall in the ruble exchange rate in 2015, all goods purchased for foreign currency in the domestic market rose significantly. Naturally, the volume of imports again fell sharply.

Only 3,800 tons of lamb were brought to our country this year. Compared to 2014, its imports fell by 78 percent. In the period from January to February 2016, there was some recovery in imports (by 70.6 percent compared to the same period in 2015). But imports of mutton failed to gain the previous values. The volume of import of this meat into our country fell by 57.2 percent compared to the figures of 2014, by 69.9 percent since 2013, and by 52.3 percent since 2012.

Sheep breeding in Russia is considered by experts to be one of the most promising directions livestock business, but its development is hampered by the inaccessibility of credit resources and the small amount of own funds from potential entrepreneurs. Governmental support this industry could give impetus to its rapid development, which would create new jobs and provide first the domestic market, and then enter the external market with domestic products of this industry Agriculture.

Sheep are the domesticated form of the wild mountain sheep. Their ancestor is a single species - moufflon, other types of mountain sheep have never been tamed. AT broad sense the word sheep is used to designate domesticated rams in general, in the narrow sense it is used only to designate females. Accordingly, males in household are called rams in the same way as wild ancestors.

These domestic sheep, grazing in the highlands of Scotland, are very similar to their wild ancestors.

The domestication of sheep occurred a little later than the domestication of goats. It happened about 6-7 thousand years ago. Asia Minor, the Caucasus and Iran became the center of domestication. Initially, sheep were tamed and bred in the mountains and foothills, but they turned out to be very plastic (changeable) and quickly mastered new climatic conditions. These animals tolerated drought especially well, so they soon spread across the deserts and steppes of Asia. Together with goats, they became very popular in the Mediterranean, where they were the most massive view livestock. From here the sheep got into Western Europe and again gained widespread popularity here. In the Middle Ages, sheep were bred so much that it was reflected not only in the economies of countries, but also in their culture. England became a recognized breeding center, together with the English colonists, sheep were brought to the USA, South America, Australia and New Zealand. They are found everywhere in large quantities, but the last two countries have become the new world center of sheep breeding. Now Australia contains the largest number of these animals in the world.

Herd of merinos in the pasture.

What was the reason for such a general love of man for these animals? First, unpretentiousness. As inhabitants of the mountains, sheep are accustomed to eating scarce food and are completely undemanding to feed. They eat over 500 types of herbs, and in addition they can eat leaves, branches of shrubs, thorny and bitter plants. They need relatively little water to digest food, and they use it very efficiently. The special structure of the teeth and jaw allows the sheep to cut the stems to the very root, so they literally gnaw pastures to the ground. Sheep graze with pleasure and benefit for themselves in areas pitted by cows and horses. But after them, other animals in the pasture have nothing to do. Secondly, sheep are very healthy and hardy animals. Physiological diseases are rare in them, and they tolerate long transitions perfectly. Sheep do not require special attention, are easily controlled, not aggressive, compact. In addition, they are not afraid of the cold. In most cases, they do not even need special premises for keeping them: in warm countries, sheep are on pastures around the clock and all year round, in countries with moderate cold winter a canopy or an uninsulated barn is enough for them. However, there are areas in the world where there are very few sheep. These are humid tropical regions. Fear of dampness is perhaps the only drawback that limits their distribution.

In winter, sheep forage from under the snow. The dense coat not only protects them from blizzards, but in some cases can even be waterproof for rain.

The behavior of these animals is very specific. Sheep are considered stupid, timid and stubborn, and this is the rare case when prejudice is largely justified. Indeed, in comparison with other domestic animals, sheep are slow-witted, incurious, and non-contact on a psychological level. Trying to get them to understand is doomed to failure. During grazing, they are not interested in what is happening around, paying attention only to the behavior of their comrades. If dogs, cats, horses adjust their behavior to the specific conditions and requirements of a person, then sheep invariably use a few simple reflexes, which require a lot of work to change. In a new environment, they get used to it slowly, it takes them a long time to change their habits. No wonder they say, "looks like a ram at a new gate." Interestingly, the brain of domestic sheep is smaller than that of their wild ancestors, and even mountain sheep in natural environment behave much more actively. The inability of sheep to quickly adapt to a new environment is perceived by people as stubbornness.

Lambs suck milk on their knees.

However, the stupidity of the sheep is exaggerated and misinterpreted. The fact is that they have a highly developed herd instinct, much stronger than their wild ancestors. Moreover, the psychological comfort of sheep is directly proportional to the size of their group. If most animals, even herd animals, do not tolerate overpopulation, then sheep in huge groups feel excellent, in small groups they feel good, and alone they feel bad. Other animals can replace their brethren to some extent (there is a known case when a lonely sheep made friends with ducklings), but if the animal is completely isolated, then it will be in severe stress. In this regard, the sheep try their best to stay close to each other. It is this hypertrophied herding that is the cause of the notorious sheep stupidity. To understand how strongly the instinct to follow the sheep replaces logic, it is enough to give such an example. When a large flock of sheep is herded into a koshara, the animals in front pass through the gate and rest against the fence of the pen. Under the onslaught of those coming from behind, they turn around and walk along the fence, they continue this maneuver until all members of the group enter the corral. At this moment, those who entered first rest against the tail of the latter and ... seeing their brothers, they begin to follow them! Thus, the herd closes in a ring and begins a circular motion. Sheep follow each other regardless of where they are, experienced shepherds know that such walking can last for several hours until exhaustion. To stop it, the shepherds have to enter the pen and push the sheep to stop the orderly movement.

Sheep go through the pasture, stretching out in a chain: each subsequent one focuses on the one who follows in front.

The cowardice of sheep is well known. Unlike other domestic animals, they do not attempt self-defense, they never stand up even for their offspring. In general, these animals are very sensitive to loud sounds, afraid of the dark and confined spaces. But all these shortcomings of behavior are at the same time their virtues. One shepherd can cope with a thousand flock of sheep, he just needs to control the leading animal. In some cases, sheep can be safely left unattended. For this, only one ram is tied, and the rest of the herd members remain next to it and do not leave, despite the freedom of movement. With all the difficulties of training, sheep learn several commands, remember the shepherds and treat them with trust bordering on self-sacrifice. Therefore, since ancient times, the sheep served as a symbol of meekness, complaisance, good-naturedness. It is the sheep, and not the smarter and more playful goat, that is identified in the Bible with righteousness. The image of sheep herds became a common cliché in poetry and painting of the Middle Ages. Troubadours and poets sang of a peaceful shepherd's life surrounded by sheep as an ideal of life harmony, this style in art is called pastoral.

Black-headed sheep in the moorlands of Scotland.

Sheep are one of the most ancient domestic animals. Historical sources say that this branch of animal husbandry flourished in the most ancient times. The biblical stories testify to this. However, even today sheep breeding has not lost its popularity. The leading countries in the number of sheep provide the whole world with valuable wool, meat and dairy products.

Sheep are one of the few animals that are bred to obtain not only meat and milk, but also wool. As a branch of animal husbandry, sheep breeding ranks third in the world. And still today it is one of the most extensive types of agriculture. According to the latest data, the world population of these animals is about 1.2 billion heads.

The countries of subtropical and tropical zones, which have large areas for grazing, are engaged in breeding these animals. Desert and semi-desert areas are also suitable for sheep breeding. Therefore, the geography of the industry is extremely wide and diverse. Modern countries leaders in the number of sheep are China, Australia, India, Great Britain, New Zealand, Sudan. This industry is also popular in Russia, Turkey, Spain, Morocco, Brazil and some other countries.

China

For more than a dozen years in a row, this camp, oddly enough, has been the leader in terms of the number of sheep. According to the latest statistics (2011), there were over 138 million adult livestock in China. The main activity is the production and sale of lamb . The Celestial country provides almost 30% of the total world supply of this type of meat.

The greatest demand in the world is young lamb, so every year China develops and implements new effective ways to intensify the industry. However, do not forget about the demand for wool. Therefore, they are engaged in breeding modern fine-wool breeds.

Australia

Australia can rightfully be called the capital of sheep breeding. Only in this country there are 5 times more animals than people. According to the latest estimates in 2000, there were about 120 million sheep here. However, today this number has slightly decreased and leaves about 100 million heads. The basis of production is high-quality wool. Australia annually provides a third of the world's production of fine wool sheepskin.

downy fields

Australia should be given special attention when considering sheep farming. The fact is that here are the largest herds. For example, the average Australian herd has 1.5 thousand heads. Large farms contain more than 200 thousand heads. Mostly Merino breed.

Australia is unique. Only here pastures for sheep occupy such an area that is equal to the area, for example, of the whole of Luxembourg. And economic farms are called villages - shipstations. On pastures, as a rule, huge herds graze without supervision, gradually moving to new areas.

New Zealand

In the 30s of the 19th century, a small herd of merinos was brought from Australia. Since then, New Zealand has confidently entered the top three countries in terms of the number of sheep. Today, about 50 million heads of the local semi-fine-fleeced meat-and-wool breed are bred here. At the end of the last century, there were about 17 sheep for every inhabitant of the country. New Zealand entered the world market as one of the largest exporters of wool and lamb.

Interesting. The fact that sheep breeding is the main industry in the state is also reminded by the coat of arms.

Great Britain

Compared to China or Australia, England does not have a very large number of sheep - just over 40 million. However, there is a very high productivity and popularity of the livestock industry. So, for example, in the 19th century, many well-known breeds were bred here: meat Wiltshire Horn, wool Wensleydale and others.

In England, there are about 100 sheep for every 100 hectares of agricultural land. This is an extremely extensive form of farming. At the same time, the farms place more emphasis on the production of lamb than wool. The UK is one of the top three exporters of lamb meat in the world.

In the highlands of Wales and in Scotland, pastures are poor, so sheep breeding is the leading livestock industry here. Here, in one farm alone, the livestock can reach 8 or more thousand heads. For such a small area, this is a big indicator.

Other countries

Among all the leading countries, it is also worth mentioning India, which has a 40 million sheep population, Sudan - 39 million, Turkey - 33 million, South Africa - 29 million. Also developed sheep breeding in Iran, Brazil, Israel, Morocco, Russia. The countries of Central and Western Asia are suppliers of a very valuable type of fur - astrakhan or lamb skins. Israel is a leading exporter of sheep's cheese and milk.

In our country, according to data for 2011, the number of these animals is 19.8 million heads. In the world, Russia ranks 9th in wool shearing - about 1.61 kilograms of washed wool from one sheep.

Video "Down inhabitants of Australia"

In this video you will see how sheep live in Australia, what are the most popular breeds. You will also see how the wool is sheared and the animals are prepared for the exhibition.

"Draw me a lamb!" - The little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupery.

Physiology of sheep

A very interesting fact is that sheep have the same rectangular pupils as octopuses. In addition to these animals, the mongoose and the goat also have rectangular eyepieces.

Physiologically, sheep are not able to perceive depth and try to avoid shadows and sharp contrasts between dark and light. They always try to move in the direction of the light.

Lamb peas are often referred to as sheep droppings, which are oval in shape and do not stick together.

Sheep have a very good memory and are able to plan for the future.

Sheep have keen hearing. Extremely frightened by loud noises. A third of their lives are spent in a state of "thoughtfulness" and require peace and quiet. Running away from danger, a sheep may accidentally fall on its back, and if it is not helped, get up or roll over, then lying on its back for a long time, it may die.

Sheep do not like to walk in water or pass through narrow openings. They prefer to move upwind and uphill than downwind and downhill.

A newborn lamb recognizes its mother by her voice. Sheep very often produce twins.

A sheep is a herd animal, she does not feel well and even experiences severe stress if she lives alone. The alarm level goes off if she sees other sheep nearby.

Sheep in mythology and religion

One of the characters of ancient Greek mythology is Crius - a ram with a golden fleece, who was considered the son of Poseidon and Theophanes. He was sacrificed to the god of war, Ares. It is known from mythology that he had the ability to fly. It was on it that Frix and Gella went to Colchis. According to Hecateus, he had the ability to speak in a human voice, encouraging Frix, he himself ordered to be sacrificed to the gods.

The historical interpretation of this event suggests that Crius was the mentor of Frix, who on the ship managed to deliver Frix to Colchis (Asia), and Gella, not having survived, died on the way. Kriya was sacrificed to the gods by skinning him. Then his skin was gilded and hung in the temple. According to Eratosthenes, the ram himself took off his golden skin, gave it to Phrixus and, having ascended to heaven, became one of the constellations. The constellation Aries is named by the Greeks in honor of Crius, from whose skin the Golden Fleece was obtained.

The ram's horns were considered among people Ancient Asia strong magical artifact. So, in ancient Egyptian iconography, the main gods (Khnum - the creator of people, Amon - the god of the Sun) and some of the rulers of Egypt were depicted in the form of a man with a ram's head. And although many adult rams sort things out with the help of large swirling horns, colliding with each other on high speed, snow sheep do not want to do this for some reason.

Sheep deserve frequent mention in Christianity. Often the flock of Catholic priests is compared to submissive sheep. Sheep are mentioned at least 200 times in the text of the Bible. In the New Testament, people are compared to sheep, and Jesus is compared to the Shepherd and Shepherd. “The Good Shepherd leads them home, and the Lord their God will save them in that day, like sheep, his people.” Some Christian saints patronize shepherds, and some patronize sheep. Jesus Christ is often portrayed as the sacrificial Lamb of God.

In Slavic mythology, the ram is associated with death. According to an ancient Russian belief, after death, suicides turn into sheep, which the devil harnesses to his wagon. About suicides they said: "Damn the ram."

In Madagascar, to this day, sheep are not eaten, as Aboriginal beliefs suggest that the souls of ancestors are embodied in them.

Sheep in predictions

In divination (scapulimancy), a mutton shoulder is used as the main tool for predicting a person's fate. AT English language even a special expression has been preserved, which literally means: "read on the shoulder blade." In the process of divination, boiled in water and cleaned of the remnants of meat and cartilage, the right mutton shoulder blade is held over an open fire until the bone cracks. After that, the sorcerer proceeds to "study" the results. The longest longitudinal crack, designated as the "life line", is chosen as the basis. Transverse cracks to the right of the main line portend joyful events in a person’s life; on the left - obstacles and bad omens. Black spot is a sign of death, and the closer it is to the "life line", the faster a person can die.

Sheep in astronomy

Aries is the vernal equinox. This is one (March 21) of the most significant days per year on earth. It is from this day that the Northern Hemisphere begins summer time. Many peoples, including the Slavs, celebrated New Year exactly on this day.

Sheep domestication

It seems that people and sheep have existed inseparably since time immemorial, but this is not so. Like other types of domestic animals, the sheep was originally a wild animal. The sheep was domesticated by people about 6-8 thousand years ago, according to scientists, in the territory of modern Turkey.

After DNA studies, it became that domesticated sheep have an equal number of chromosomes only with mouflon. It is believed that short-skinned sheep originated from mouflons, fat-tailed and long-skinned breeds, including fine-fleeced breeds, from argali, modern fat-tailed sheep from argali.

From sheep, a person receives wool, meat, skin, milk and cheese (brynza). Sheep meat is called lamb. Castrated rams are called valukhs.

Sheep breeding is one of the most important branches of animal husbandry. Sheep breeding is practiced in many countries and plays a significant role in the economy of many countries. The largest number of sheep is currently in countries such as China (144 million heads) and Australia (98 million)

Many people like to wrap themselves in warm things, knitted from natural wool. And this is not surprising, because the main property of wool is the preservation of heat. Scientists are still unable to synthetically reproduce the raw material as a replacement for natural merino wool. Every year at the Golden Bale auction, elite fabrics are created from this wool. The extremely thin (thickness of 18-19 microns) merino wool is especially valued.

Unlike goats, they quickly get used to new owners and places of residence.

If the sheep graze in an open, unfenced area, then they begin to huddle together and do not move a single step away from each other, but if they see a fence, they feel safe and graze serenely.

Livestock breeders classify sheep according to the type of their tail. The tails of long-fat-tailed sheep are very long and are able to accumulate a sufficient supply of fat when good nutrition. Therefore, farmers sometimes attach small carts or sleds to such a tail so that it does not accidentally peel off, dragging along the ground and stones.

For one shearing, about 10 kg of wool is sheared from an adult healthy sheep.

Rams and sheep have an interesting ability to remember the image of their shepherd. During the movement of the general herd, driven to a watering place, several flocks of sheep are mixed. However, if the shepherd calls his sheep, then his flock moves away from the water and goes to graze in the pasture. The reason that a strange ram or sheep wandered into the herd is a disease of the ears or eyes. The sheep always follow the shepherd, and it is not the shepherd who drives them from behind.

AT winter time, if the sheep see a standing shepherd, then they surround him with a dense ring, but as soon as he sits down, they begin to disperse and it is likely that they will freeze and die from hypothermia.

Sheep have few ways to protect themselves from predators, they can only quickly run away or group together in one herd. Therefore, shepherds use dogs to collect all the sheep in the flock. Sheep instinctively take the dog for a predator, and gather for protection, trying to protect themselves.

Sheep breeds

The average life expectancy of sheep depends on their breed. The Urial breed has the shortest lifespan (6 years). Long-livers among sheep can be called bighorn sheep, which at home can live up to 24 years.

Mouflons or mountain sheep are one of the few large mammals that live on the mountain slopes, and go to a height of up to 5000 meters above sea level. They prefer rocks and scree. Although most time they graze in alpine meadows, at any slightest danger they hide among the rocks. Animals are extremely shy and easily abandon their habitable places, becoming vagrant, and change their usual paths.

In the mountains of the Middle and Central Asia, including in the south of Siberia, at altitudes from 2400 to 2800 meters above sea level, you can find argali or mountain sheep, or argali (lat. Ovis ammon). Sheep of this species have chic and very heavy horns. Some representatives of argali wear horns weighing up to 35 kg. In our country, he lives in remote mountainous areas and is listed in the Red Book.

There are quite expensive breeds of sheep, the cost of one copy of which reaches $ 2,000,000.

sheep hybrids

There are cases of crossing sheep with other animal species. We are talking about hybrids obtained by crossing a goat and a ram. For example, in 2000 in Botswana, as a result of a long joint keeping, a ram and a goat were crossed. The animal was named "Toast of Botswana". Sheep and goat have different numbers of chromosomes - 54 and 60. Therefore, in most cases, their offspring are most often stillborn. The surviving hybrid managed to inherit the traits of both of its parents at once. He had long wool, like a sheep, and his legs were goat's. The animal had a heavy ram's body. At the age of five, his weight was 93 kilograms (considering that average weight an adult ram at 53±13.83 kg). The animal had 57 chromosomes. The hybrid was very active, had an increased libido, and was completely sterile. At the age of 10 months he was castrated.

In New Zealand, a case of the birth of a female hybrid is known, and also from a goat and a ram, the number of chromosomes was also 57. This hybrid was also sterile.

Most interesting fact is that, in France, a similar hybrid managed to give new offspring from a ram. One fetus was stillborn, and the second was alive, male and had 54 chromosomes.

AT Nizhny Novgorod region, Irina Mikhailovna Nemesh in her personal household managed to get offspring from a goat and a sheep. She gave her hybrids the name - "basly" (a combination of the words rams and goats). The hybrids grew somewhat larger than the sheep. Adult bazles looked like sheep in appearance, their wool was similar to the wool of Caucasian shepherd dogs, the undercoat is thinner, and shed in the spring, like a goat. Of the twelve heads of bazles, only three were male. Despite infertility, they had an increased libido.

Sheep incidents

In the coastal city of Helgoisund, Norway, residents and tourists could see a rather ridiculous sight. Clinging to the horn electrical wire and thus, being in limbo, he bleated his urine, a ram. This happened at a height of 6 meters from the ground, while he did not receive current discharges. Probable cause how he managed to get the ram there next. The animal peacefully nibbled on the grass on the top of the hill and accidentally caught on the wire, and then simply rolled down the hill under its own weight along the wire. Witnesses began to save the poor fellow. It turned out daunting task. The ram, bucking in horror, did not allow the loops of the rope to be thrown over itself. Only an hour later the animal was able to be lowered to the ground safe and sound.

Sheep in science

The first cloned animal in the world is a sheep named Dolly. She was reproduced from a cell taken from her own mammary gland. Ian Wilmuth, the leader of the research group, in an attempt to come up with an association to the mammary glands, remembered the breasts of the famous American country singer, Dolly Parton. However, few people know that 277 defective clones were destroyed before the experiment to clone a mammal from somatic (non-sex) cells was completed successfully.

Sheep in people's lives

“O sheep, so tame and unpretentious in food. They become so greedy and unbridled that they absorb the people themselves, devastate and depopulate the fields, houses and cities,” Thomas More wrote in his work “Utopia”, describing the events that took place in England in the 17th century during the formation of capitalism. The mass expulsion of defenseless peasants from their settled lands due to the fact that the sheep belonging to the future bourgeoisie had nowhere to graze, led to the mass extermination of the population. According to historians, the population of "good old" England declined from 7% to 30%.

Counting sheep is quite a tedious task as there are so many of them in a flock. Monotonous calculations dull a person's attention and drive him into a meditative state. That's why we're so often told to count sheep when we can't sleep.

Sheep in linguistics

The popular expression in our language “stared like a ram at a new gate” does not refer to sheep at all, as many believe. In ancient times, the Assyrians, and then the Romans, during the assaults on enemy cities and fortresses, broke the gate leaves with a heavy log with a metal knob in the form of a ram's head.

In our speech, we often use the phrase "white crow" to denote a person who differs in behavior or in some other way from a certain designated group of people. In European languages, the analogue of this expression is the idiomatic expression "black sheep". At the same time, Europeans, uttering this phrase, also indicate the undesirability of finding such an individual in this group. In this aspect, the idiom is very close to other Russian expressions - "black sheep".

A medieval French comedy has an episode where a rich clothier sues a shepherd who stole his sheep. During the meeting, the clothier, in a fit of anger, forgets about the shepherd and showers reproaches on his lawyer, who in the past did not pay him for 6 cubits of cloth. The judge interrupts his speech with these words: "Let's go back to our sheep." Subsequently, they became winged.

There are many sayings in Russian that mention sheep. Examples:

From a black sheep, at least a tuft of wool. Rotten apple injures its neighbors.

Sheep in art

The sheep is seen as a symbol of meekness and humility.

The Black Sheep Monument in Savonlinna, London is home to the Shepherd and the Sheep sculpture.

"Sheep Gas Station" is the name given to the 25 statues erected at one of New York's West Side gas stations, Chelsea, thanks to the government's Getty Station arts program. The epoxy stone and bronze installation was created by Michael Schwo and Pavel Kasmin, who decided to rethink the cartoon characters of the French artist Francois-Xavier Laland.

In the cartoon "Smeshariki", a ram (one of the races of the cartoon) has curly light purple wool, purple horns and hooves.

Sheep records

A ram named Shrek once managed to escape from the farm where he grew up. For 6 years he wandered through the mountains. However, he was later found. It was not easy to recognize him. The fact is that over the years of wandering, he was seriously overgrown with wool. After his capture, the farmer sheared 27 kg of wool from him.

However, the record for the number of cut wool does not belong to Shrek. At the Krasny Shepherd state farm in the Kherson region (Ukraine), 31.7 kg per year were sheared from just one ram. At the same time, the weight of the ram reached 130 kg.