Minxian black fur sheep are produced in the upper reaches of Taohe River and Minjiang River in Gansu Province. The production area is located in the northwest of Wudu area in Gansu Province, in the middle reaches of Taohe River, and it is the border area between Gannan Plateau and Longnan Mountain in Gansu Province. The altitude is generally 25 ~ 32 meters, and the peak is over 3 meters. The climate is extremely cold, with an annual average temperature of 5.5℃, the lowest (January) average temperature of -7.1℃, the highest (July) average temperature of 15.9℃, the frost-free period of 9-12 days, the annual precipitation of 635 mm, the rainy season from July to September, accounting for more than 65% of the annual precipitation, the evaporation of 1246 mm, and the relative humidity. The main stream of Taohe River flows from west to east and north in Min County. There are Dalaling in the south, Muhanling and Minshan in the north, which have good vegetation coverage and are good pastures for grazing. Grass is mainly Gramineae, as well as willow shrubs and some forest grasslands. Crops include spring wheat, broad beans, highland barley, oats and potatoes. Economic crops mainly produce oil and angelica.
geographical scope
Min County is located in the south of Gansu Province, the eastern edge of Gannan Plateau, the western part of Longnan Mountain and the southern end of Loess Plateau in Longzhong, in the middle and upper reaches of Taohe River, and the river flows through the southwest and northwest of the county. It is located between 34 7'-34 45' north latitude and 13 41'-14 59' east longitude, with a length of about 12 kilometers from east to west and a narrowest point of only 15 kilometers from north to south. The county is 267 kilometers away from Lanzhou and 26 kilometers away from Beijing. It is adjacent to Wushan and Lixian in the east, Tanchang, Diebu and zhuoni in the south, Lintan and Zhuoni in the west and Zhangxian in the north. The production area of black fur sheep in Min County covers 13 towns and villages including Qingshui, Shili, Xizhai, Chafu, Weixin, Xijiang, Zhongzhai, Sigou, Qinxu, Mazichuan, Shendu, Hetuo and Lvjing. 3, sheep are bred annually, with an annual output of 45 tons of mutton.
breed characteristics
Minxian black fur sheep is meticulous in constitution and compact in structure. The head is delicate, the bridge of the nose is raised, the ram has horns, and it bends spirally backward and outward, while most ewes have no horns and a few have small horns. The neck length is moderate. Back straight. The tail is small and tapered. Body, limbs, head, tail and hoof are all black.
breed performance
the average body height, body length, chest circumference and weight of Minxian black fur sheep are 56.2 .7cm, 58.7 .7cm, 76.1 .9cm, 31.1 .8kg, and that of adult ewes are 54.3 .3cm and 55.7 respectively. Minxian black fur sheep is mainly famous for producing black two fur. In addition, it also produces two shears. After the lamb is born, its coat is about 2 cm long and curved in a ring or semi-ring. When it grows to about two months, the natural length of the wool is not less than 7 cm. At this time, the slaughtered fur is called two fur. Typical two fur is characterized by its hair length of not less than 7 cm, its hair strands are obviously spikes, and its tip is annular or semi-annular, with 3-5 bends. Good two fur's wool fibers are all black from root to tip, with pleasing luster and thin leather. The average area of the leather board is 135 square centimeters. The second shearing refers to the pelt taken by lambs born in the same year, which were sheared once in spring and slaughtered in the second shearing period (autumn of that year). It is characterized by obvious hairiness, 3-4 bends from tip to root, good luster, large leather board area, warmth and durability. Its disadvantages are: more fluff, easy adhesion between hairs and strands, and heavy leather board. Minxian black fur sheep are sheared twice a year, with spring wool in mid-April and autumn wool in September. The average annual shearing amount is .75 kg. Wool is used to make felt.