Yanchi County is the only pastoral county in Ningxia among the 266 pastoral counties in the country. It is rich in pasture resources and animal husbandry resources. The soil is mainly light gray calcareous soil and gray calcareous soil, with low organic matter content, more carbonates, sulfates, and sulfides in water and soil, and rich in sulfur, phosphorus, calcium and other minerals. This kind of light, heat, water, soil, Vegetation and climate conditions are important factors that influence the characteristics of the two-haired fur, and are also the main reasons for the flavor of Yanchitan mutton.
In 2000, Tan Sheep was listed as a national second-level protected species by the Ministry of Agriculture, and Yanchi was also designated as the core protection zone of Tan Sheep germplasm resources by the autonomous region. According to relevant scientific research data, the Yanchi Tan sheep has obvious narrow ecological adaptability, and its most suitable growth area is the arid, semi-arid and desertified grassland area represented by Yanchi with special light, heat and water conditions. According to historical records, Tan sheep, a breed used for light fur, was listed as one of the five most abundant products in Ningxia in 1755. It has a history of nearly 260 years.
According to the "Compendium of Materia Medica", "Tan mutton can warm the body and replenish deficiency, replenish qi, calm and relieve convulsions, appetize and strengthen the body, and treat fatigue, aversion to cold, five labors and seven injuries", and can be used for It can treat diseases such as fatigue and weight loss, soreness and weakness in the waist and knees, postpartum coldness, stomachache due to coldness, kidney deficiency and yang deficiency. Yanchitan mutton is tender in texture, has a very light smell of mutton, evenly distributed fat, and is rich in nutrients. It is the top grade of mutton. In the words of local people in Yanchi, Yanchitan sheep "eat Chinese herbal medicine (licorice, etc.) and drink mineral water (gou spring water)", thus forming its unique flavor and quality, which is favored by consumers. There is also a saying “If you want to eat good mutton, come to Yanchi”.
Yanchitan mutton has been tested by the Inner Mongolia Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fishery Biological Experimental Research Center. The total protein content is 93.02 (air-dried sample), the unsaturated fatty acid content is high, and the mineral elements are rich in types and moderate in content, especially trace elements. The content of selenium is 0.073mg/kg, which has a strong health care function. However, lead, arsenic, and mercury that are harmful to the human body have not been detected, and the cyanoic acid that gives mutton a smell has not been detected. The content of carbonyl compounds is 1mg/100g. The content is the lowest compared with other mutton, while the content of exanthine and other substances related to mutton flavor is the highest compared with other mutton. The cholesterol content is the lowest compared with other mutton. The nutritional composition structure is obviously better than other varieties of mutton.
In 2000, Tan sheep was listed as a national second-level protected rare sheep breed by the Ministry of Agriculture. Yanchi County was identified as the core protection zone of Tan sheep germplasm resources. In June 2003, Yanchi County was named "China "The Hometown of Tan Sheep". In June 2005, the "Yanchitan Sheep" certificate of origin trademark was successfully registered. In September 2008, the Agricultural Products Quality and Safety Center of the Ministry of Agriculture approved the geographical indication certification of "Yanchitan Sheep" as a pollution-free agricultural product. In January 2010, it was approved by the Trademark Office of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce. Recognized as "China's Well-known Trademark".
The Tan sheep industry is a characteristic and advantageous industry in Yanchi County and a pillar industry of the county's agricultural and rural economy. Sheep farmers account for more than 90% of the county's farmers, and more than one-third of farmers' net income From sheep farming. In recent years, Yanchi County has vigorously implemented a brand-driven strategy, focusing on industrial development, paying attention to variety and brand protection, strengthening scientific and technological support, implementing park construction, standardizing market operations, developing high-end products, exploring high-end markets, creating famous brand products, and establishing and improving The trademark operation mechanism of "market influence, enterprise driving, policy promotion, and social linkage" and the development model of "standardization of farmers' brands in enterprise parks" have promoted the conservation, development, utilization and industrialization of Tan sheep. The county's Tan sheep industry has shown a Good development momentum.
At present, the county has cultivated and developed 7 leading enterprises in the deep processing of "Yanchitan Sheep" products, and has developed 36 kinds of Yanchitan mutton series products and 22 kinds of second-hair fur series products, with an annual production of Yanchitan mutton. Processed 3,600 tons of products, achieving annual sales revenue of 325 million yuan. Tan mutton products are exported to 24 large and medium-sized cities in provinces, including Beijing and Tianjin. Due to the continuous development and growth of processing enterprises, the Tanyang industrial chain has been increasingly improved and industrialized. By the end of 2011, the county had raised 2.508 million sheep, and the output value of Tan sheep reached 410 million yuan.