Meat breeds of sheep and rams are characterized primarily by the rapid weight gain and taste of meat. Already at a young age, lambs reach half the weight of an adult sheep. A one-year-old lamb weighs almost as much as an adult ram. Meat breeds of sheep on the territory of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine are very popular, while many varieties do not require special conditions of detention.
Varieties of meat sheep
Animals are able to find their own food and have sufficient fertility, and high-quality wool and tasty meat are appreciated both in domestic and foreign markets. A variety of meat sheep breeds will allow a farmer from any corner of Russia (from southern regions to Siberia) to find a breed that meets the needs of the farm.
Most of the breeds of the meat direction are distinguished by a docile nature, the ability to move long distances without significant damage to weight and offspring. Before buying animals, you should read the description in detail, see photos and videos of different breeds.
Benefits of meat breeds
- Endurance. The meat-wool variety can make long transitions in search of new pastures.
- Large and frequent offspring.
- No requirements for special conditions of detention. Individuals intended for meat can safely graze on pastures all year round.
- Increasing adipose tissue both in winter and in summer.
- Thin bones with a fairly strong build.
- A large amount of high quality meat.
- Ability to feed lambs abundantly for fast weight gain and excellent health. Mortality among lambs is minimal.
Gissar and Edilbaevskaya breed
Some beef sheep have a pronounced fat tail. These include representatives of the Gissar breed. The fat mass of an adult animal reaches 45 kg, while the weight of an average ram is about 140 kg, a female - 80 kg. Sheep and rams have good endurance, since in Central Asia, where they come from, they had to travel great distances in search of pastures. With intense physical activity, the animals do not lose weight: the average daily gain is 600 g.
Hissar breed of sheep
The search for pastures does not affect the nutritional value of female milk, which ensures a stable weight gain in lambs. The Hissar breed is not intended for wool production. It is coarse in this breed, with a lot of dead hair. It should be noted that this breed is common in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Sheep of the Edilbaev breed are native to Kazakhstan, which also speaks of their endurance. In its homeland, this variety is very popular. On average, the rams and sheep of this breed are slightly less than the Gissar: the male weighs 120 kg, and the female - 70 kg. Such meat breeds of sheep in Russia quickly get used to the local climate and are easily adaptable.
Edilbaevskaya breed of sheep
Karachaevskaya breed
Karachay individuals are the pride of Karachay-Cherkessia, according to local residents, it is this variety that is the focus of all the best qualities that nature could only give. The Karachaevskaya variety can be used as meat and wool or fat-meat-milk. Females give good milk yields. Caring for such a species is simple.
Karachaevskaya breed of sheep
The Karachai individual has a fat tail. The total weight of representatives of the meat direction is relatively small: rams weigh 90 kg, females - 60 kg. Meat specimens in Russia or Belarus are valued by local farmers for fat tail fat, which has a high taste and does not have an unpleasant aftertaste. Animal care is simple, this breed will suit even inexperienced farmers.
Jaydara and Tajik breed of sheep
Best fat-tailed variety. The fat weight in a fat tail reaches 15 kg. The weight of the male is 110 kg, the weight of the female is 60 kg. Such individuals are not intended for the production of wool, since they have little of it. Despite this disadvantage, individuals have excellent milk, a large amount of meat, high-quality skins. Animals have strong immunity and excellent survival rate. Jaidara feed on pasture and are able to travel long distances in search of food without harming the weight and health of the offspring.
Jaydar sheep breed
There are relatively few fat-tailed breeds, and they are mainly bred in Central Asia and the Caucasus. In the rest of the world, meat and wool varieties of animals are popular.
The Tajik variety combines a large amount of fat tail fat and good wool. Sheep are large and can weigh up to 160 kg, sheep - about 120 kg. Lambs at 4 months reach a weight of 45 kg. Today, such a variety is practically not found on the territory of the Russian Federation, because Tajik sheep have gone through a difficult path of selection, and its completion coincided with the collapse of the USSR, which did not contribute to its spread.
Tajik breed of sheep
Romanovskaya and Kuibyshevskaya breed
Romanovs are the most famous representatives of Russian sheep breeding. The Romanov sheep has earned popular love, thanks to its unpretentiousness and endurance. This breed has no body fat. The Romanov specimen has thick fur, which prevents the wool from matting. The good fur qualities of the Romanovskaya sheep are known all over the world. From one Romanov individual, 1.5 kg of wool is obtained, from a ram - 3 kg. Another plus is considered to be amazing fertility: mating occurs regardless of the season.
Romanov breed of sheep
The Kuibyshev breed is the best variety of Russian sheep breeding, which was developed in the late 40s. Kuibyshevskaya sheep combines the traditions of Soviet animal husbandry: it is hardy (it can successfully endure the continental climate), it produces a large amount of high-quality meat, and has a large amount of wool.
Kuibyshev breed of sheep
The meat of the Kuibyshev sheep is marble, it lacks the smell characteristic of mutton. Females have well-developed fertility and maternal instinct, almost every third female brings twins. The downside is the inability to adapt to an arid, poor food supply climate.
Gorky breed
The Gorky variety is the result of Anglo-Soviet selection. Individuals of this breed were obtained by crossing the Hampshire variety with the Russian northern polycarpous individuals. As a result of selection, the Gorky sheep appeared, which has sufficient early maturity, economy (thanks to high-quality meat and wool, individuals quickly reimburse the funds spent on feed).
Gorky breed of sheep
Meat sheep of the Gorky variety give good offspring: there are 130-160 lambs per 100 females. Unfortunately, the Gorky sheep cannot boast of a large amount of wool obtained, especially this negative quality is manifested in non-tribal representatives.
After the collapse of the USSR, the breed practically disappeared, and is currently being restored thanks to the efforts of individual enthusiasts.
West Siberian and North Caucasian breed
The West Siberian variety is the youngest common meat breed. In the final version, it was presented only in 2010. The West Siberian breed was specially selected for breeding in the Siberian winter. In terms of weight, a good result was achieved: rams reached 100 kg, females - 63 kg. The wool of the West Siberian variety belongs to the semi-thin.
West Siberian sheep
The North Caucasian sheep was obtained as a result of selection of the Romney Marsh and Lincoln breeds. This variety is characterized by rather large males (120 kg) and small females (65 kg). Lambs show high growth: at 4 months the average weight reaches 33 kg. The North Caucasian variety is not uncommon for our country, and many novice farmers start such a breed.
North Caucasian sheep
Breed Duper and Zwartbles
Meat rams are distinguished by a high amount of quality meat, short hair, fertility and endurance. Meat breeds are mainly common in the west and in Africa, in hot climates that do not allow to grow enough wool. Duper can be attributed to almost purely meat breeds. Many farmers consider this to be the best beef breed.
Its representatives lack wool, but this deficiency is fully compensated by the presence of tasty, lean meat that does not have unpleasant odors and tastes.
Duper breed
The southern region of Russia is distinguished by a hot climate, so it becomes problematic to grow other individuals there. Sheep can weigh 140 kg, females - 95 kg, lambs quickly gain weight, and by 4 months weigh 65 kg. Of similar breeds, one can note such a variety as the Kutum sheep. It is considered to be meaty and smooth-haired, which allows it to be grown in hot climates.
High palatability is characteristic of the Zwartbles breed. These Dutchmen have a thick coat and stamina. Females and males, on average, are not very different in weight. Males weigh 130 kg and females 100 kg. Females are quite fertile and easy to breed.
Sheep breed Zwartbles
Wiltshire horned and Barbados black-bellied sheep
The Wiltshire Horned is not the most famous species in Russia, but this British breed is impressive in size. The characteristic in animals is such that, regardless of gender, both sheep and rams grow small horns. Compared to others, this variety is not very fertile. Animals weigh up to 140 kg, males, females a little less - 90 kg.
Wiltshire horned
The Barbados black-bellied sheep is a relatively medium-sized individual of the meat direction (males reach 90 kg, females - 60 kg). The undoubted advantage of sheep and rams is dietary meat without lanolin. The fertility of the breed is quite high.
Barbados black-bellied sheep
Buryat sheep and Tien Shan variety
Anyone who needs a “frost-resistant” variety of meat direction should pay attention to Buubei (Buryat sheep): it is difficult to find better in this regard. Such individuals were bred by the Buryat tribes taking into account the harsh climate and limited food supply. Buubei are able to eat pasture throughout the year, while showing good performance indicators. The character is mobile, females are distinguished by a developed maternal instinct. Male weight is 100 kg, female - 60 kg.
The Buryat ram has thick wool, which makes it possible to classify this variety as fur-and-meat. The meat has no characteristic smell and tastes good.
Buryat sheep
The Tien Shan variety is more suitable for those who live in mountainous areas with a harsh climate. This is the best beef breed of sheep and rams according to many farmers. The breed is distinguished by excellent early maturity and strong immunity for offspring. Unfortunately, the hairline in sheep and rams is sparse, and it is not enough to make a large amount of tissue. Sheep also have a small fat tail.
Tien Shan variety of sheep
Soviet Merino and Romney March
Soviet Merino is one of the most popular varieties in the Republic of Dagestan. Soviet merino has two subspecies: meat-wool and pure wool. Individuals are distinguished by long hair of high quality and good meat performance.
Soviet Merino
The average weight of a ram is about 110 kg, for a female - 50 kg. Breeding animals have a white color, the amount of wool can reach 30 kg per ram. Unfortunately, the wool of this breed is prone to pollution, the formation of tangles, and is prone to the appearance of parasites.
The character of the individuals is calm, they are prone to a herd lifestyle, are unpretentious and eat both pasture and mixed feed. It is not recommended to keep animals in pens, as long stay under the roof can provoke the appearance of parasites.
Romney Marsh is an English sheep and sheep that has a muscular build and strong legs. In Russia, pure Romney March is not widespread, since it turned out that nutrition for young animals in our country is insufficient, therefore breeders specially improved this variety with the help of various crosses.
Romney Marsh breed
Unfortunately, the quality of the finished product suffered during the selection process, so the breed had to be diluted again to end up with the Russian Romney March. Sheep breeds of the Romney Marsh meat direction give a sufficient amount of milk, so the lambs gain weight well and have strong immunity.
Conclusion
Ultimately, there are many meat breeds for every taste. The main thing is to determine the goals: it is important to get only one meat or the quality of the wool also has value. Or maybe the amount of milk that the sheep can give, or the frost resistance of the individuals, is of great importance for the owner of the sheep. Taking these and other requirements into account, it is advisable to choose the best option.
Sheep of Texel breed from the stud farm LLC APK Aleksandrovskoe Zolotaya Autumn 2013
Katum meat sheep. Exhibition Golden Autumn 2016
Russian meat merino at the exhibition Golden Autumn-2016