Sheep of the Edilbaev breed: description, breeding

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Sheep breeding in our country, and especially in the steppe regions, has recently been gaining more and more popularity. This is primarily due to the state policy aimed at the development of agriculture. Also, one of the main prerequisites for the development of this industry was the repeated outbreaks of a disease such as swine flu. Farmers and large agricultural enterprises were encouraged to try out alternative methods of livestock production. One of the most promising breeds of sheep is currently considered the Edilbaevskaya fat-tailed sheep. Its main advantages are endurance, unpretentiousness and high productivity.

History of the breed

Sheep of the Edilbaev breed were bred even before the revolution by shepherds in the interfluve of the Urals and the Volga on the territory of Kazakhstan. In the selection process, maximum attention was paid to increasing the endurance of animals. After all, then nomadic cattle breeding was highly developed in Kazakhstan. The bred sheep had to easily endure long transitions, if necessary, go without food for a long time, and be insensitive to heat and cold. Astrakhan large coarse-haired andKazakh fat tail.

To date, this sheep is bred almost throughout Russia. This breed is especially popular in Tatarstan and Bashkiria. There is a rather large herd in the Orenburg region. Of course, this is one of the planned breeds in many regions of Kazakhstan. Farmers of some other foreign countries also breed these sheep.

General Description

Sheep of the Edilbaev breed belong to the group of the meat and tallow direction of productivity. The main distinguishing features of these animals are a very strong physique and polled. Sheep of this breed do not have horns. The color of the Edilbaev sheep can be brown, red or black. Animals of different colors differ somewhat in terms of productivity. Black and brown sheep produce the most wool and meat. Among other things, the signs of the breed include:

• correct physique;
• well-developed fat tail;
• heterogeneity of coat (down, awn, transitional hair).

The body length of the rams of this breed is 77-82 cm, chest girth is 90-106 cm.

Productivity Metrics

An adult Edilbaevsky ram weighs about 110-120 kg. The best individuals can gain 150-160 kg. This breed is also valued for its precocity. At birth, the mass of rams is only about 6 kg, and by the age of 4 months this figure reaches 20-24 kg (including 3-4 kg fat tail). By one and a half yearsthe young growth already weighs about 80 kg. The slaughter yield of meat in these sheep is 50-53%. Its advantages include not only low cholesterol content, but also the complete absence of a specific smell.

Characteristic for this breed are high productivity rates. On this basis, the edilbaev sheep are superior to many other varieties. The average shearing in rams is 3-3.5 kg, in queens 2.3 kg. The maximum figures are 5 and 2.6 kg.

The milk yield of these sheep is also quite high. From one uterus during the lactation period, you can get 150-155 liters. The marketable milk of Edilbay sheep is used mainly for the preparation of various kinds of traditional Kazakh drinks: airan (kefir), kurt (hard cheese), irimchik (cottage cheese) and butter. All of these foods are very beneficial for he alth. The average fat content of milk is 5.8%. The weight of a sheep of the Edilbaev breed is about 65-70 kg. The best individuals can gain 90-100 kg.

The sheep of the Edilbaev breed, unfortunately, does not differ in particular fecundity. The queens usually bring one lamb each. Occasionally there are two or three cubs in a litter.

Sheep breeding: selection work

In our time, scientists and breeders continue to improve this breed. Its advantages, among other things, include the ability to pass on to offspring all useful and economic characteristics. Breeding work is carried out mainly along the lines, with the laying of two or three in the herd. Of course, not only the best male sires are selected to replenish the livestock, but alsoelite queens. Lines are created from rams with some outstanding qualities - in early maturity, weight, fat tail size, wool quality. Such animals become the ancestors of several generations of edilbaev sheep. Working with the line itself consists mainly in mating animals with distant degrees of kinship.

Separate flocks are collected from the very valuable Edilbaev sheep. Improved living and feeding conditions are created for them. Selected sheep, depending on certain qualities, can be used as producers from 18 months to 4-5 years.

Feeding Features

One of the absolute advantages of this breed is unpretentiousness in relation to feed. After all, the Edilbaev sheep were bred precisely with the expectation of not being particularly picky in food. The ancestors of modern animals of this breed knew how to eat miserable grass, extracted from under stones with the help of hooves, dead wood, branches, etc.

Of course, today these lambs are fed much better. Despite the fact that the edilbaev rams and queens eat literally everything that the owners offer them, both high-quality concentrated and green feeds and juicy ones are usually introduced into their diet. Indeed, on a well-balanced diet, these animals gain weight much faster. So, for example, when using feeds with a high protein content, by 4 months, rams gain weight not by 24 kg, but by as much as 50 kg.

The content of sheep with the use of corn as the main feed can significantly increaseyield of fat and fat. The basis of the diet of animals bred for meat, are concentrates such as wheat and oats. Also, such sheep are given bran, straw and cake. Of course, in both cases, the animals should receive a large amount of hay or fresh grass. You can also feed the sheep with leafy branches or dried brooms. From succulent feed they are given technical beets, carrots and other vegetables and root crops. Without fail, animals must receive various kinds of vitamin and mineral supplements.

In the summer, sheep of the Edilbaev breed are driven out to pastures. At the same time, they are almost completely transferred to pasture. Thus, the advantages of these animals, among other things, include the relative cost-effectiveness of keeping.

Features of breeding

The maintenance of sheep of this breed is a relatively simple procedure. Any special requirements for the premises, for example, animals do not impose. The main thing is that the sheepfold should be warm and dry. Although representatives of this breed tolerate cold well, it is desirable to ensure that the air temperature in the barn in autumn and winter does not fall below 9 degrees. Among other things, ventilation must be arranged in the sheepfold. Stuffy air, like drafts, these animals do not like.

A particular difficulty in keeping fat-tailed breeds lies in summer grazing. The fact is that these animals are very shy. At the slightest sharp sound, the herd can simply scatter. Under no circumstances should this be allowed. The fact is that with a special mind a fat-tailed sheepthe breeds do not differ and they simply cannot find their way to the stall on their own. Shepherds have to look for them in the steppe and mountains. But, being calm, sheep obey their owners in everything and even dogs or horses. One of the distinguishing features of the Edilbaevskaya breed is some aggressiveness. However, it is usually directed not at people or other livestock, but at representatives of their own herd. Even without horns, the Edilbaev rams manage to "heap" each other from time to time. If left unchecked, these animals can even result in serious injury in some cases.

Disease prevention

Of course, when breeding these animals, all necessary measures should be taken to prevent infection. All sheep of the fat-tailed breed, including the Edilbaevsky, need periodic vaccination. This procedure should be carried out under the supervision of a veterinarian.

Pregnancy and childbirth

Lambing in queens of this breed usually goes without complications. Childbirth continues in most cases no more than half an hour. The owners of the farm do not need to take any special actions when lambing. All that needs to be done is to clear the nose of the newborn lamb and put it close to the mother. Young animals can be released to pasture already on the second day after birth.

Edilbaev breed of sheep: price in Russia

Breeding these animals is beneficial not only because of their productivity and unpretentiousness in food. Many farmers receive a good income and, by sellingyoung. The price for it may be different in different regions. In the Orenburg region, for example, one thoroughbred lamb costs about 7,500 thousand rubles (for 2016). In Bashkiria, you can buy young animals from private traders and cheaper - for 6000 rubles.

But of course, it is still worth buying Edilbaevsky sheep in breeding farms. In this case, it is more likely to buy lambs from a good proven manufacturer. Of course, such animals will have better productivity indicators in the future.

Conclusions

As you can see, the Edilbaevskaya fat-tailed breed is really notable for its good productivity and does not cause much trouble for its owners when breeding. Processing of sheep's wool of this variety makes it possible to obtain high-quality felted and felt products. Meat, milk and lard are widely used in the food industry. To date, this breed is certainly one of the most promising in our country. In particular, it is recommended to breed Edilbaevsky fat-tailed sheep in the southern arid regions.