World meat industry news

The Tsigai breed of sheep is known for its high productivity and adaptability to various climatic conditions.

The Qigai sheep breed was developed in China at the beginning of the 20th century and was named after the Ji River, which flows through Shaanxi Province, where these sheep first appeared. Their creation was aimed at producing animals capable of withstanding harsh climatic conditions and having a high level of productivity.

Now the legendary breed will receive its genetic base in Russia, thanks to the cooperation of the Crimean Research Institute of Agriculture and the North Caucasus Federal National Research Center.

“In the Russian Federation, the total number of sheep in 2022 is 19.2 million heads, including queens and females older than a year - 13.2 million heads, in agricultural organizations - 2 million 985.9 thousand heads and 2 million 164.2 thousand heads, respectively. During the year, there was a decrease in both the total number of sheep and breeding stock: in all categories of farms by 3.2 and 2.9%; in agricultural enterprises - by 3.9 and 1.4%, respectively. In Crimea, as of January 1, 2022, there are 139.9 thousand animals. sheep in farms of all categories, including breeding livestock, are concentrated in two breeding breeding grounds of about 3.3 thousand heads, and ewes - 2.6 thousand heads,” statistical data are provided on the website of the Crimean Research Institute of Agriculture.

To further preserve the Tsigai breed of sheep, employees of the Research Institute of Agriculture of Crimea and the North Caucasus Federal Research Center for Sheep and Goat Breeding joined their efforts. Based on the concluded agreement on joint activities, they began work on creating the genetic base of this breed.

The first stage of the work was the selection of samples of genetic material from Tsigai sheep by employees of the laboratory for research of technological methods in animal husbandry and crop production of the Research Institute of Agriculture of Crimea. After this, the samples were transported to the city of Stavropol.

During the transfer of materials, the main points of work were discussed with Alexander Yuryevich Krivoruchko, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Chief Researcher of the Laboratory of Genomic Selection and Reproductive Cryobiology in Animal Husbandry, and Doctor of Biological Sciences, Associate Professor, Leading Researcher of the Department of Sheep Breeding Larisa Nikolaevna Skorykh.

This deep and fundamental work of joint scientific institutions will contribute to the preservation of the Tsigai sheep breed on the peninsula and create opportunities for attracting and professional development of young specialists. In addition, this will make it possible in the future to obtain materials for publications in prestigious international publications and improve the reputation of domestic science.

One of the main advantages of the Tsigai sheep breed is their ability to adapt to different climatic conditions. They can survive and thrive in both hot, humid climates and cold, harsh conditions.

In addition, the Tsigai breed of sheep is well adapted to grazing and can be used for the production of milk, meat and wool. The productivity of Tsigai sheep in terms of milk is about 400-500 liters per year. They are also known for their fast-growing fertility and excellent survival rate.

The Tsigai breed of sheep has a medium to large build, with a height at the withers of about 70 cm and a weight of about 65-70 kg. Wool has a double coating: the outer layer is made of coarse, long and strong wool, and the inner layer is made of short, soft and fluffy wool. This makes the wool of Tsigai sheep highly valuable and in demand.

The Tsigai breed of sheep, due to its versatility, offers the opportunity to obtain milk, meat and valuable wool. Caring for these sheep does not require much difficulty, which makes them accessible to many farmers. The Tsigai sheep breed is a valuable asset in agriculture and its importance and value continues to grow.