Sheep Raising Manual

Author: Editor-in-Chief: Zhang Yingjie
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2000-01-01
Features: Excerpt: The Significance of Developing Sheep Farming China has a long history of sheep farming, with over 8,000 years of tradition. With the development of human production, sheep farming has become an important industry. In pastoral areas, sheep are the most numerous livestock, serving not only as crucial production resources for herders but also as a primary source of their livelihood. Farmers in mountainous regions have long been accustomed to raising sheep. In semi-pastoral and agricultural areas, sheep farming has seen rapid growth in recent years. The products of sheep—such as wool, cashmere, mutton, sheepskin, and sheep milk—are high-value commodities, while their manure serves as excellent fertilizer. In vast rural, pastoral, and old, ethnic, border, and impoverished areas, sheep can be raised on grasslands, wastelands, riverbanks, and field edges, making it an essential industry for farmers to escape poverty and achieve prosperity. Sheep farming holds the following significant importance in China's national economy and people's lives.
1. Providing Industrial Raw Materials Wool and cashmere are the main raw materials for the textile industry, used to produce yarn, blankets, woolen fabrics, industrial fabrics, and industrial felt. They can also be processed into high-quality spun yarn, woolen and cashmere garments, pants, and more. Woolen textiles are aesthetically pleasing, durable, and highly insulating, offering advantages unmatched by other fabrics. Cashmere products, in particular, are favored by consumers for their lightness, thinness, and warmth. Sheepskin is a vital raw material for the leather industry, used to make leather clothing, hats, shoes, and bags. Mutton and sheep milk are indispensable raw materials for the food processing industry, used to produce various grilled, preserved, smoked, and canned foods, as well as cheese, milk powder, and condensed milk. Sheep intestines can be used to make sausages, preserved meats, and can be processed into musical strings, tennis rackets, and medical sutures. Wool, mutton, sheep milk, sheepskin, and intestines are essential raw materials for the textile, food, leather, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries, and the development of sheep farming directly impacts these sectors. Additionally, it has close ties with light industry, papermaking, tire manufacturing, and defense industries.
2. Improving People's Livelihoods Sheep farming increases the economic income of farmers and improves their living standards. Mutton is highly nutritious and has a unique flavor, making it a favorite food for ethnic minorities, pastoral communities, and mountain dwellers. In urban areas, mutton consumption is also substantial, with its versatility in dishes like hot pot, grilling, frying, and pan-frying making it widely loved. Wool and cashmere textiles are stylish, comfortable to wear, and excellent at insulation, with people wearing wool and cashmere garments as a symbol of high fashion. Leather made from sheepskin is lightweight, soft, durable, and highly popular. Lambskin and fur coats are excellent choices for winter warmth and decoration. Sheep milk is rich in nutrients, easy to digest, and an ideal food for infants and the elderly. With the development of the national economy and the continuous improvement of people's living standards, the demand for sheep products is increasing. Market demand has spurred the growth of sheep farming, leading to higher numbers and better quality of sheep. This, in turn, increases farmers' income while providing more and better products to urban and rural populations, further improving people's lives.
3. Providing Export Commodities and Earning Foreign Exchange Wool, cashmere, sheepskin, and sheep intestines from China are traditional export commodities, holding a significant position in foreign trade. Carpets are exported to the United States, Japan, and European countries, enjoying a high reputation in the international market. Goat leather, green hide, lake lamb skin, and Tan sheep two-haired skin are also well-received. It is particularly important to emphasize that China's cashmere is fine, soft, and pure white, with a smooth texture and excellent quality, making it highly sought after by countries worldwide. China's exports of combed cashmere and cashmere textiles account for half of the global trade volume, making it a major export product for earning foreign exchange.