In a conversation with a Turmush correspondent, the farmer shared that he bought six sheep ten years ago — at the price of two ordinary ones. “They were very large. I haven't seen such big sheep among the Areshan breed since then. Back then, this breed was not widely known, and I didn't understand much about it myself. So, I just sold these rams to a café as meat. Later, I became interested in Areshans, started studying their characteristics, and five years ago began to seriously engage in their breeding. Now I am trying to expand and develop my farm. I take the best rams from acquaintances who are livestock breeders to improve the selection. Previously, I would give the best individuals for free to those who were just starting in sheep farming — out of good intentions, following the Muslim tradition of helping each other. But this year, I decided not to give anyone anything and to engage in full-fledged breeding,” Ryskulbekov said.
According to him, his farm has descendants of famous Areshan rams. “This year, I bought for 200,000 soms a descendant of the famous ram nicknamed Vovan and started using him for breeding. I also have Kinzhal — a descendant of the ram Amanat. I also acquired a descendant of the ram nicknamed Sheroy — I plan to use him next year. The ram you see in the photo is Kinzhal. I believe that the Areshan breed, developed here in Kyrgyzstan, will continue to evolve and eventually become known worldwide. Even now, it is known not only in neighboring countries but also in Europe,” the livestock breeder shared.
In April 2021, the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, Regional Development registered a new Kyrgyz meat-fat breed of sheep called “Areshan.”
The differences of the “Areshan” breed of sheep from other breeds:
- The Kyrgyz meat-fat breed “Areshan” was developed between 1970 and 2021 in the farms of the Kyrgyz Republic. The breed was created using ram producers of the Gissar breed, brought in 1977 from Tajikistan, which were crossed with local coarse-wool ewes. Animals of the second generation from the absorptive crossbreeding, meeting the requirements of the desirable type, were bred “in themselves.”
- The Kyrgyz meat-fat breed “Areshan” has excellent meat-fat qualities, is of large size, has a fat tail, high growth and development energy, and is highly adapted to being kept in high mountain and valley steppe conditions.
- The sheep of the Kyrgyz meat-fat breed “Areshan” have a compact body, satisfactory exterior, strong constitution, and a light yet sturdy skeleton.
- Rams and ewes are polled.
- The live weight of 7-8-month-old lambs is 48–61 kg, one-year-old young stock is 60-78 kg, and adult rams weigh 109-177 kg.
- Four genealogical lines have been formed.
In the republic, there are 5,832 sheep of this breed. The approximate cost of a lamb is 1,000 dollars, and sheep are 5,000 dollars.
