Sheep are considered the most ancient domesticated animals, which are appreciated by our ancestors and modern Russian pastoralists. In the entire history of the existence of world agriculture, several hundred different breeds were bred, many of which arose during the existence of the USSR. The territory of the former Soviet Union is considered the most suitable for raising sheep in large quantities. Therefore, it was there that animals of various breeds were bred, a significant part of which appeared as a result of the work of domestic breeders.
But some species were still imported into Russia and the countries of the present CIS from Europe and Asia. This happened with the Qigai sheep breed, which arrived in Russia from Asia Minor at the beginning of the 19th century.
Breed description
Tsigai sheep in most cases are white. They are quite large and with a strong physique, so it’s easy to recognize them. However, the animal looks proportional and harmonious. The reviews show that the body of the lambs is solid, the body is characterized by compact dimensions and a wide bone. A distinctive feature can be considered a long and thin tail, in which there are from 18 to 23 vertebrae.
Front and hind legs stand correctly. Strong sheep hooves are characteristic of the Qigai sheep breed.
In newborn lambs, folds can be seen on the skin that disappear as the lambs mature. The hair of this breed is thick and uniform. The fur coat practically does not fall off.
According to the characteristics of the Tsigai sheep breed, the weight of an adult female is 40–45 kg. With good content and regular balanced nutrition, individual sheep can gain up to 55-60 kg. Sheeps weigh 80–85 kg, in some cases 100–110 kg.
Productivity
Under standard conditions, 1-2 lambs are born in ewes. On average, for 100 mothers, there are 115–140 cubs.
Tsigaysky breed of sheep can be safely called precocious. This is because young lambs are rapidly gaining mass. The daily weight gain of the animal is 350-450 grams.
Wool properties
A fleece weighing 6-7 kg is obtained from one ram, and no more than 5 kg from females. Reviews of the Tsigai sheep breed indicate that most often the percentage of pure wool from one adult animal is up to 55-60%, and the length of the strands is 10-14 cm. The amount of wool that can be obtained from animals directly depends on the conditions of their keeping and on the diet.
Sheep of the Tsigai breed are considered fine-fleeced. Their wool is characterized by a white tint, has an openwork structure, consists mainly of one fluff.
The removed coat of sheep and sheep has an attractive appearance, and perfectly white color is easily painted in any shade. Also, the fleece is highly appreciated for the fact that the coat is thin, strong and resilient, almost does not fall off. They make a high-quality sheepskin out of it, which is difficult to obtain from coarser wool of other breeds.
From the reviews you can find out that sheep of this breed are sheared once a year - in April or May.
Animals are very sensitive to wet weather. This is due to the fact that their long thin coat, wet in the snow or rain, dries for a long time. Most often, this leads to the fact that the sheep gets a cold.
All kinds of fur products are sewn from animal skins.
Advantages and disadvantages of Qigai sheep
The advantages of the described breed include the following:
- unpretentiousness to the conditions of detention;
- strong bone skeleton, which minimizes animal injuries;
- beautiful fleece.
Studying the characteristics and description of the Qigai sheep breed, we can say that animals feel uncomfortable when kept in a stall. To fully conduct grazing, it is worth regularly bringing them to pasture. For this, a meadow in a lowland or a section of forest with grass can be used. Grazing such sheep in moist soils leads to frequent infection with worms that affect the internal organs (lungs and liver).
Feeding
Judging by the reviews and characteristics, the Qigai breed is very beneficial in terms of mass breeding. This is because the sheep are unpretentious to the diet: during the warm season, they eat exclusively pasture. It is best to simultaneously carry out additional top dressing in small portions. Dry and juicy feed animals with pleasure eat it in the winter. They include all kinds of root crops, sex and hay.
Significant financial costs for keeping sheep are not required, because animals have been accustomed for centuries to survival in the semi-desert regions of Asia Minor. This developed their instinct for self-preservation, and also caused a decrease in the need for water and feed.
Content Features
Specialists giving advice on keeping the Qigai sheep in the cold season recommend sending them to nightmares. Domestic sheep are sensitive to dampness and drafts. Therefore, it is important to correctly adjust the level of humidity in the room. Every day you should walk the animals in the fresh air, of course, provided that there is no rainfall. This is due to the fact that their wool quickly absorbs moisture, and then dries for a long time.
In the summer, sheep of the Tsigai breed should spend almost all their time on pastures. In domestic animals, metabolism is accelerated in the fresh air, which positively affects the taste of meat.
Veterinarians advise vaccinating sheep against infectious diseases to minimize the risk of serious illness. You need to do this according to a special schedule. It is also recommended to perform deworming at least twice a year and treat the wool with repellents.
So, sheep of the Tsigai breed are popular in Russia and Ukraine, as well as in the Caucasus. Their wool and meat productivity is at a fairly high level in comparison with other breeds. Sheep and rams are distinguished by unpretentiousness and endurance. Among their advantages, early maturity and good health can be distinguished, and many farmers consider the low fecundity of females to be a lack of breed.
Tsigai sheep’s milk is very popular. From it produce delicious high-fat cheese and such varieties of cheese, such as Roquefort, rocking, etc.