Karakul sheep are kept primarily for lambskinfur production. Sheep pelts are a 301.8(b) The Karakul (or Qaraqul) sheep was once deemed Namibia's 'black diamond'. The Karakuls posses a strong flocking instinct and can be run either on open range or in fenced pastures. It is easily spun, with little preparation. Its purposes are to provide a recording service, to work towards a high standard of quality in the Karakuls and to promote and thereby preserve the breed in the U.S. Karakul sheep are athletic, fascinating creatures. Breeds of Livestock, Department of Animal Science. Karakul, sheep breed of central or west Asian origin, raised chiefly for the skins of very young lambs, which are covered with glossy, tightly curled black coats and are called Persian lamb in the fur trade. The Karakul sheep are medium-sized animals. Jeff Black's report, Karakul Sheep in the United States and Canada , calls them beautiful and stately animals, aesthetically pleasing and a classic example of … Large flocks are still to be found outside the U.S. especially in Central Asia and South Africa. As the lamb grows, the curls opens and loses its pattern and the color generally begins to turn brownish or bluish gray, getting grayer with age. U.S. breeders, in their eagerness to produce a large quantity of pelts, introduced other breeds into the bloodlines. animal-science-mail-form The long ears are always pointing downward and slightly forward and vary from a long U shape to small V shape, or may be entirely absent. Information on adding new breeds or updating existing information. Karakul are also raised in large numbers in Namibia, having first been brought there by German colonists in the early 20th century. The Karakul has some unique qualities. Today there are small farm flocks scattered throughout the U.S. The long neck is carried semi-erect. All current U.S. stock is descended from the original importation and the importation of new bloodlines is restricted by government regulations. The Karakul is native to Central Asia and is named after a village called Karakul. Characteristics of the breed are a compact body with a straight back and slightly pendulous belly which is covered with wool. It is the wool from which the art of felting evolved. Karakuls breed out of season, making it possible for three lamb crops in two years. First imported into Canada at the beginning of the 20th century, it is now the only fat tailed sheep in Canada. With a growing interest in the fiber arts in the United States, there has been an increased interest in the Karakul sheep. In the early 19 th century Karakul sheep farming spread in many countries like Afghanistan, United States of America, Turkey, Russia, Namibia, Botswana and South Africa. The goal is to upgrade the current stock with selective breeding, to a Karakul of pure type. Even in their native regions, the demand for furs resulted in a crossing and intermingling of native fat-tailed sheep so that the native flocks exhibit wide variations in type and color. The sheep are aggressive grazers and browsers, useful wherever pastures need improvement. The sheep are active grazers and browsers and have long lop ears. This produced pelts of inferior quality and eventually the industry and the flocks were dispersed. [5] Rather than killing healthy female sheep, farmers will kill older sheep that have already given birth many times. PO Box 477, 33 Hillsboro St, Pittsboro, NC 27312, College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, College of Human & Environmental Sciences, Ag Education, Communications & Leadership, Master of International Agriculture Degree Program. Other colors include a wide range of shades; silver blues grays, golden tans, reddish browns, white with flecks of other colors include a wide range of shades; silver blues, grays, golden tans, reddish browns, white with flecks of other colors and occasionally pure white. The ewes are very protective and attentive mothers, resulting in a high lamb survival rate. Karakul or Qaraqul (named after Qorako‘l, a city in Bukhara Province in Uzbekistan) is a breed of domestic sheep which originated in Central Asia. While they respond to good feed and care, they are excellent foragers and will go through a season of scant food or graze marginal land in which ordinary sheep would not survive. As the name suggests, face of of these animals are black, sometimes with white markings. This lack of uniformity is apparent. Karakuls are medium-sized sheep, but they differ radically in conformation from many other breeds. The legs are medium to long, and light in bone. Many adults have a double coat, a fine down undercoat, covered by a coat of guard hair. Newborn karakul sheep pelts are called karakul (also spelled caracul), swakara (portmanteau of South West Africa Karakul), astrakhan (Russian and French), Persian lamb, agnello di Persia, (Italian), krimmer (Russian) and garaköli bagana (Turkmen). [2] They are currently listed as endangered.[2]. The Karakul produces a lightweight, high-volume, strong fiber fleece that, at its best is long and lustrous, usually with no crimp. characteristics. They are resistant to internal parasites and foot rot. The head is long and narrow, slightly indented between the eyes and often exhibiting a Roman type nose. Some archaeological evidence points to Karakul sheep being raised there continuously since 1400 BC. Body and fleece types vary even in those Karakuls capable of producing lambs of high quality fur. We invite shepherds to note birth coat characteristics for their farm records, KSAR registration and certification, storage and later retrieval in the Alliance database. They represent some of our stud rams and select breeding ewe stock. The American Karakul Sheep Registry is a roster of the U.S. Karakuls to the degree that it is supported by the Karakul breeders. Most lambs are born coal black with lustrous wavy curls, with the face, ears, and legs usually showing smooth, sleek hair. As an organization it has evolved from the Karakul Fur Sheep Registry founded in the 1930's and is now recognized as the national registry for the breed. Project initiated April, 1994 - Initial web site opened February 22, 1995. A hard life imparted to the breed a hardiness and ability to thrive under adverse conditions, which is distinctive of the Karakul sheep to this day. The Karakul is considered a rare breed in the U.S. and most likely will remain so; current population is estimated at 1300 animals. The narrow appendage below this fat sack is often recurved, giving an S shape. As a fat-tailed breed, they have a distinctive meat. Their legs are black in color and relatively shorter. Please mail your original copies with our email form Karakul sheep have a wide, fat tail that stores fat. Handspinners and weavers provide the market for most of the Karakul wool produced in this country. Considered long-stapled (average 6" to 12" per year), the fleece lacks a high grease content. particularity attributed the lamb pelts of Karakul type 2, 13, 14, 17. [10] The astrakhan collar has appeared in more recent men's fashions, and astrakhan has been featured more extensively in the form of a Formula One-style driving suit made primarily of astrakhan. The Karakul sheep is believed to be one of the oldest domesticated sheep breed in the world and originates from Bukhara region in Uzbekistan, Central Asia (Bravenboer, 2007). It has a dominant black gene, so a very high percentage of these sheep are born black. The Karakul sheep are medium-sized animals. Karakul Sheep Characteristics. There are stored fat in their large tail, which is a source of nourishment and similar in function to the camel’s hump. The Karakul is distinguished by its colored fleece, which is due to a dominate black gene. The Sheep: Pictures were chosen to reflect certain bloodlines, unique characteristics, and breed diversity. Scottish Blackface sheep is a medium to large sized animal with very beautiful appearance. Karakul or Qaraqul (named after Qorako‘l, a city in Bukhara Province in Uzbekistan) is a breed of domestic sheep which originated in Central Asia. The Karakul has some unique qualities. [3] The newborn lambs have a tight, curly pattern of hair. They can survive severe drought conditions because of a special quality they have, storing fat in their tails. Karakul is a relatively coarse fiber used for outer garments, carpets and for felting. Copyright © 1995-2015 Oklahoma State University Board of Regents. Ewes are generally hornless. They were also a source of milk, meat, tallow, and wool, a strong fiber that was felted into fabric or woven into carpeting. They do not herd well; they are likely to scatter or fight a dog trying to herd them. The neck is thin, long and well set at the thorax. The shoulders are straight and fleshy. There are stored fat in their large tail, which is a source of nourishment and similar in function to the camel’s hump. [6] The pelts have also been used in haute couture. Fetal karakul lambs are harvested through miscarriages, induced early delivery or by killing the mother sheep and removing the fetus. The purpose of this study was to assess the overall productivity of Karakul sheep and their crosses with local mutton breeds for producing both pelts and lambs for meat. They are hardy and adaptable, thriving under rugged conditions in a variety of climates. Single lambs are the rule, although twins are born occasionally. But there is a great variability in the fleece type of both coats, from "horse tail" coarse to silky soft. Very young or even fetal Karakul lambs are prized for pelts. Karakuls are medium-size sheep. Sheep, ( Ovis aries ), species of domesticated ruminant (cud-chewing) mammal, raised for its meat, milk, and wool. Sheep pelts Karakul Gotland sheep Icelandic based sheep a b s t r a c t In the present work the production and quality of sheep pelts is reviewed with emphasis on three breeds, the Karakul, the Swedish Gotland and the Icelandic sheep, as well as with some information from sheep breeds from Australia and New Zealand. document.write('animal-science-mail-form'); Though used primarily for the production of wool, Karakuls are multipurpose sheep with many valuable characteristics. The colour of the Karakul sheep is mainly black or grey. NOTE: The form can also be used for Comments, Suggestions, and Corrections. It is a specialty breed that is finding its niche as part of the cottage industry. Although known as the "fur" sheep, the Karakul provided more than the beautifully patterned silky pelts of the young lambs. The rams will weigh between 175-225 pounds and the ewes range from 100-150 pounds. They are of the fat broadtailed type of sheep. [7][8] An Astrakhan collar has been used on women's suits[9] and on expensive overcoats. [4] Dark colors are dominant and lambs often darken in color as they age. Despite competition which makes them the Archeological evidence indicates the existence of the Persian lambskin as early as 1400 B.C. They are considered a fat-tailed (or broad-tailed) sheep, but theirs is not always an extreme version of such. The grown sheep are medium-sized; their wool is a mixture of coarse and fine fibres, varying in colour from black to shades of tan and grey. [1], Hailing from the desert regions of Central Asia, Karakul sheep are renowned for their ability to forage and thrive under extremely harsh living conditions. All this complex of traits makes of Karakul sheep perhaps the noblest sheep breed and the Karakul lambs, by curling drawing and chromatic variety, are the most beautiful in the world having an elegant and graceful appearance. The fleece is seen in a variety of natural colors. Swakara was coined as a brand name by the Karakul farmers of the then South West Africa, now Namibia, and South Africa, as their Karakul sheep had specific characteristics that those from other parts of the world did not have. The Karakuls posses a strong flocking instinct and can be run either on open range or in fenced pastures. It is open to all breeders of quality Karakuls. The sheep is usually stockier than its relative the goat (genus Capra ); its horns, when present, are more divergent; it has scent glands in its face and hind feet; and the males lack the beards of goats. It is hardy and adaptable and can thrive in different climatic conditions in a difficult environment. While these animals are not for sale, arrangements can be made to purchase offspring from these sheep. They differ radically in conformation from many other sheep breeds, and they are of the fat broad tailed type of sheep. It got its name from the village of Karakul in West The top line is highest at the loin with the rump long and sloping, blending into a low set broadtail. They are of the fat broadtailed type of sheep. Fleeces weigh five to ten pounds and have a staple length of six to twelve inches. Karakul sheep are multi-purpose animals originating from the dry regions of … Table 121 Performance characteristics of karakul flocks in different provinces Province Performance Characteristics Average STD CV Balkh Lambing Rate 85.22 9.26 10.87 Weaning Rate 65.22 8.78 13.47 Pelting Rate (Good Forage Year) 34.00 28.71 84.43 Pelting Rate (Bad Forage Year) 56.00 8.79 15.70 Pelting Rate 2001 39.44 23.68 60.04 For this reason, it is important to know the current information about production traits of the breed. Annual number of … The Karakul sheep is a type of fat-tailed sheep, very common to the African and Asian continents, but considered a rare breed in the US and Canada. This region is one of high altitude with scant desert vegetation and a limited water supply. Scottish Blackface Sheep Characteristics. The Karakuls differ radically in conformation from many other breeds. The wool of the adult Karakul (a very strong fiber) was felted or spun into fabric for garments, footwear, carpets, and yurts, among other uses. Some archaeological evidence points to Karakul sheep being raised there continuously since 1400 BC. Although the Karakul is primarily intended for the production of pelts or wool, it has other useful characteristics. Many adult Karakul are double-coated; in this case, people separate the coarse guard hair from the undercoat. and carvings of a distinct Karakul type have been found on ancient Babylonian temples. Fetal karakul lamb pelts are called broadtail, Breitschwanz (German), and karakulcha. Characteristics. We are currently looking for high resolution pictures of any of the breeds. Please provide a description of this breed as well The harsh conditions under which they evolved has given them strong and lasting teeth, a key to their longevity. The best have a fleece as glossy as their lamb coat. 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