What are the advantages of Small-tailed Han sheep? A comprehensive introduction to the breed's strengths
The Small-tailed Han sheep is a mutton-and-fur dual-purpose sheep breed in China, known for its rapid growth and development, early maturity, strong reproductive capacity, stable genetic performance, and strong adaptability. It has been designated by the state as a famous and superior livestock breed, and is hailed by people as China's “national treasure”, the world's “super sheep” and “long-legged sheep”, and has been listed in the “National Catalogue of Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resources”. Let's take a look below at what advantages the Small-tailed Han sheep has!
Fast growth rate
Small-tailed Han sheep can be fattened and sent to market at 4 months of age, with an annual marketing rate of over 400%. Body weight can reach 50 kg at 6 months of age, 100 kg at one year of age, and 130-190 kg as an adult sheep. The slaughter rate of one-year-old fattened sheep is 55.%, and the net meat rate is 45.89%. The meat is tender, with intramuscular fat showing a marbled pattern, moderate fat and lean, delicious and juicy, fatty but not greasy, fresh without a muttony odor.
Strong adaptability
Although the Small-tailed Han sheep belongs to the Mongolian sheep line, because it has developed the habit of “shed feeding and pen raising” in the southwestern Shandong region over thousands of years, natural conditions such as sun exposure, rain, and severe cold can all be regulated by the shed, and it is rarely affected by regional climate factors. It can grow, develop, and reproduce normally throughout the country.
Stable heredity
The Small-tailed Han sheep has stable genetic performance. High-yielding offspring can well inherit the production potential of the parents, and breed characteristics remain obvious. In particular, the multi-lamb and high-prolificacy traits of the Small-tailed Han sheep can be stably inherited.
Good fur quality
The lamb skin of Small-tailed Han sheep at 1-6 months of age is an excellent product for keeping out the cold in winter, with many wool locks and attractive flower curls. After the 4-6 month old lamb skin is processed and tanned, the leather board is thin, lightweight, and tough in texture, the wool color is white as jade, the luster is soft, the flower curls are tightly twisted, and the pattern is clear and beautiful. Its fur-making value is comparable to China's famous Tan sheep Ermao skin, while the skin area is much larger than that of Tan sheep Ermao skin. Adult sheep skin has a large area and a tough texture, making it suitable for leather making.
Earlier sexual maturity
The ram of the Small-tailed Han sheep matures at 5 months of age. At this time, 85% mature sperm is found in the vas deferens, and at 6 months of age, 100% mature sperm can be seen. The sperm density in raw semen is 3 billion/ml, basically reaching the standard for insemination. An 8-month-old ram can be used in small amounts for breeding, but feeding must be strengthened. A 1-year-old ram is best used for breeding, provided that its nutritional needs are met.
Extremely strong reproductive capacity
Small-tailed Han sheep can reproduce year-round, with three births in two years, and many have two births per year. According to statistical data from 2101 births between 1964 and 1991, the Small-tailed Han sheep is a multi-fetus sheep breed, with an average lambing rate of 281.9%, and a maximum of 9 lambs in a single litter. Its reproductive performance has two notable characteristics. First, within the first four parities, the lambing rate increases substantially as parity increases. Second, the triplet rate and quadruplet rate of the third and fourth parities are about twice those of the first and second parities, accounting for more than 40% of lambing ewes.