Content
Traditionally, meat sheep breeding in Russia is practically absent. In the European part, the Slavic peoples did not need meat from sheep, but a warm skin, which led to the emergence of coarse-wooled breeds. In the Asian part of the Russian Empire, meat was also not valued as much as lard. There fat-tailed meat-greasy breeds arose. But since the middle of the twentieth century, the need for high-energy fat and warm natural sheepskin has disappeared. There was a need for meat.
This need could be met by raising pigs or cows. But pigs bred in large numbers require strict sanitary regulations. Cows, although more resistant to disease, grow very slowly.
The golden mean could be goats and sheep. But the goats were also only dairy, and the sheep were either fur coat or fat tail sheep. There was no genetic material for creating its own beef breed of sheep in Russia. I had to attract a foreign gene pool. Sheep were used to breed a new breed: Popl Dorset, Texel, Ostfries and others. The Tashlinskaya breed of sheep is a product of a complex crossing of foreign meat sheep with local livestock.
Story
The creation of the Tashlinskaya breed began in the Stavropol Territory on the farms of intensive farming. Previously, experiments were carried out on crossing Caucasian queens with Texel rams, Soviet meat-wool and North Caucasian rams. The experiments were carried out during the most difficult period for Russia in 1994-1996.
In the photo, a ram of the Texel breed somewhat similar from this angle to a pig.
Experiments have shown that it is more expedient to use foreign Texels on the local broodstock than two other Russian breeds of sheep.
From Texel, the offspring turned out to be larger and developed faster up to 8 months. With the same diet, hybrids with Texel grew much faster during the fattening period and gained muscle mass better. The pre-slaughter weight of reared lambs from Texel was higher; the slaughter yield per carcass and the percentage of pulp also increased.
On the basis of experimental data, a scheme was drawn up for breeding a new meat breed of sheep. According to this scheme, Finnish and Dutch Texel rams were used on the local Caucasian broodstock. The resulting offspring were bred in themselves.
If the born sheep “went to the mother”, it was again done with the Texel rams until the offspring with the necessary qualities were obtained. At the beginning of the work on the breeding of the new Tashlin breed, local Caucasian sheep were also crossed with the Ost-Friesian dairy breed for the sake of the heterosis effect: the resulting queens had an increased level of milk production and fertility, as well as a very well-developed maternal instinct.
The resulting crossbred bright, possessing the necessary qualities, were crossed with Texel rams. From the lambs born, those who met the requirements for the future breed were selected, and then they were bred "in themselves."
Breeding work on the breeding of the Tashlinskaya meat breed lasted 7 years. During this time, over 67 thousand queens were inseminated in the farms of the Stavropol Territory. During this period, the main emphasis was placed on increasing the number of sheep with the desired qualities and their typing. In addition, "instructions" were developed for the maintenance and feeding of the future new breed.
In 2008, the breed was officially registered as Tashlinskaya. The name was given to the village of Tashla, where the main breeding work was carried out. In 2009, there were already 9835 heads of the new Tashlinsky breed, of which 4494 were queens.
Description
Sheep of the Tashlinsky breed are large animals with semi-fine wool.The color of the Tashlinsky sheep is white. The weight of the rams is from 90 to 100 kg. The uterus weigh 55-65 kg. Sexual dimorphism is weak. For meat breeds, this is a desirable quality, since it allows animals of both sexes to be fattened for meat with almost equal efficiency.
It is still too early to talk about the exterior of the Tashlinsky sheep, since the breed is young and unsettled. While Texel blood is still being poured to her to refresh the population. Because of this, even the shape and size of the head can vary. Tashlinsky sheep may have a straight Texel profile or Roman, inherited from local Caucasian ancestors.
The Tashlinsky ram in a private courtyard has a rather rough, crooked-nosed head with a short muzzle.
The pedigree Tashlinsky ram belonging to one of the breeding farms has a relatively small head with a straight Texel profile. This ram also has better body and limb structure. But it is clear that the selection farm will not sell the best breeding sheep, and the so-called breeding culling goes to private traders - relatively good animals that have certain disadvantages that are undesirable when obtaining the final result.
Tashlinsky sheep are well adapted to the climatic conditions of Russia. The constitution is strong. The physique of a pronounced meat type. Externally, the Tashlinsky sheep are similar to the ancestor of the Texel breed.
Productive characteristics
Tashlinsky queens are very fertile. The productivity of queens is 155-170 lambs per 100 sheep. First-class students give 128%. The safety of lambs is 91%.
Young animals respond well to fattening. Within 5 months after birth, he daily adds 220 g. The best rams at 3 months can weigh 42 kg. By the time of slaughter at 5 months, the carcass weighs 16 kg with a slaughter yield of 44%. At 7 months, respectively, 19.6 kg and 46%, and at 9 months - 25 kg and 50%. At 9 months of age, the meat content in the carcass is 80%, bones 20%.
A serious plus of the Tashlin sheep breed is the low percentage of internal fat. During fattening, the deposition of fat reserves occurs between the muscles, due to which an analogue of marbled beef is obtained from the Tashlinsky sheep.
In addition to meat, wool of good quality can be obtained from Tashlinsky sheep. The length of the fibers in rams is 12 cm, in ewes 11 cm. "Dirty" shears of wool from rams up to 7 kg, from queens - up to 4.5 kg. After processing and cleaning, the wool yield is 64% of the original amount. The fineness of wool in rams is of 48 quality, that is, 31.5 microns. Wool of one-year-old rams of quality 50. The queens and the bright ones have 56 wool quality.
Feeding
Tashlinsky sheep are not whimsical and are able to consume large amounts of roughage. They respond well to fattening. But in general, their diet is similar to that of any other breed of sheep:
- roughage;
- concentrates;
- juicy feed;
- salt;
- a piece of chalk;
- vitamin and mineral premixes.
Depending on the goals set, the percentage of feed in the diet may vary. For fattening, the main emphasis is on concentrates. It should be borne in mind that in cold weather, the need for food for animals increases. But it does not increase due to concentrates, but due to roughage. Therefore, in cold weather it is necessary to increase the rate of hay.
Succulent feed should be given with caution, as it can ferment in the stomach, causing tympania.
Content
The Tashlinskaya breed is recommended for keeping in areas with a moderately humid climate. This is mainly the Stavropol Territory, the North Caucasus region and the Central zone of Russia. In cold regions, sheep of the Tashlinsky breed need an insulated sheepfold. Here we must also take into account the fact that in cold weather the animal spends a significant part of the energy from the food eaten on heating. And this means a decrease in weight gain.
In winter, sheep are kept on deep bedding, which is naturally heated from below. The litter is not removed until summer, only fresh material is added on top.In the case of cattle, the optimal “mattress” will be made of straw, which, already during use, will slowly re-heat it in the humus in the lower layers. Do not touch the mattress during operation. Manure is removed from above and some fresh straw is thrown in. In the spring, the "mattress" is usually bulldozed out.
But not many are able to make "mattresses" correctly. For those who do not know how to better use sawdust with the addition of special bacteria. Such a litter, on the contrary, must be dug up daily.
If it is possible to cleanse the sheepfold, it is better to do it on time, without bringing the sheep to such a state.
No, judging by the white muzzles, the color of these animals is actually white. But it will take a very long time to wash the cut wool.
Testimonials
Conclusion
The Tashlin breed of sheep turned out to be very successful in terms of productivity. Tasty meat and by-products in the form of good quality wool have already made Tashlinsky sheep very popular in private farms and small farmers. And the calm nature of the rams makes this breed almost ideal for private owners.
