Turkestan farmer revived merino sheep breeding

Once it was very popular to keep merino sheep in Turkestan region. But as time passed, such farms became fewer and fewer: farmers began to give preference to other, new or traditional breeds. Sharipbek Saurykov decided to revive merino sheep breeding, reports World of NAN referring to Khabar 24.

Sharipbek Saurykov of Baidibek district took a risk to breed a thousand cattle. Now he has a large herd of merino sheep. These sheep immediately attract attention, they have high quality wool.

"Beautiful sheep and bigger in size than ordinary sheep. Their wool and meat are valuable and in demand. They are a frost-resistant breed, so they don't need to be kept too warm," says the farmer.

Sheep breeding is now a family business. The main advantage is that the meat is clean and healthy.  It is more difficult with the wool, though. The farmer believes that it is high time to open a wool processing plant in the region. Now he sends it to the neighbouring Zhambyl region. They pay 400 tenge per kilogram of merino wool.

"With this breed of sheep, though, the main problem: it's the lambs. It is especially difficult with those born in winter. The litter of a normal breed, if born in the steppe, follows the flock afterwards. But it's not like that with these ones. They need conditions and care," continues the breeder.

Nevertheless, now merino sheep breeding is experiencing a revival in Turkestan region. Farmers have decided that it is profitable to breed such sheep.

"They are easy to move around in the pasture. For example, if a normal sheep walks at two to three kilometers per hour, this one takes half a kilometer in an hour. It's easier to graze them. We give them grass in the morning, and closer to 10 we go to the pastures and just watch them. In the evening we feed them again," says herdsman Abzal Bobeyev.

To feed his cattle in winter, Sharipbek Saurykov grows wheat and alfalfa. Many other farmers are now doing the same. The hard work pays off.

Now people from all over the region come for the pedigree breed of Sharipbek Saurykov. Most of them are those who are just planning to engage in breeding.

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