Valley Sheep

Valley Sheep

　　Valley Sheep are native to counties and cities such as Huimin, Binzhou, Wudi, Zhanhua, and Yangxin in Binzhou City, Shandong Province. They are a local dual-purpose breed suitable for grazing in low-lying areas, highly tolerant of coarse feed, disease-resistant, and excellent for meat production.

　　Both male and female Valley Sheep are hornless, with a prominent bridge of the nose, slightly drooping ears, deep chests, straight backs and waists, and well-spread ribs. Their limbs are relatively short, the hindquarters are well-developed, and the body shape is rectangular. The fleece is white, with a small number of sheep having brown or black markings on the head.

　　This breed is relatively large in size. Adult rams weigh 60.40 kg, while adult ewes weigh 40.08 kg; yearling rams and ewes weigh 43.63 kg and 33.% kg respectively. They grow and develop quickly. Under grazing conditions, 10-month-old rams have a live weight of 32.50 kg, a carcass weight of 14.35 kg, a net meat weight of 11.27 kg, and a dressing percentage of 44.14%; under grazing plus supplemental feeding conditions, these figures are 37.80 kg, 18.15 kg, 14.89 kg, and 48.02% respectively.

　　Valley Sheep reach sexual maturity early. Rams have mature sperm at 4–4.5 months of age, and ewes can be bred at 182 days, typically participating in breeding at 1.0–1.5 years old. They can come into estrus and be bred all year round. According to Yuan Shuxian, the average lambing rate is 202.98%, with twins accounting for 52.85% and triplets 25.17%.