Liangshan Semi-Fine Wool Sheep

Liangshan Semi-Fine Wool Sheep

The Liangshan Semi-Fine Wool Sheep is a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　The Liangshan Semi-Fine Wool Sheep is China’s first new breed of 48-50 count semi-fine wool sheep successfully developed under the national “Seventh Five-Year” and “Eighth Five-Year” key science and technology projects, filling a gap in China’s sheep farming industry. In 1997, it was officially named “Liangshan Semi-Fine Wool Sheep.”

　　This breed was developed through complex crossbreeding using the mountain-type Tibetan sheep as the dam and introducing Xinjiang fine wool sheep, Merino, Romney, Border Leicester, and Lincoln sheep as sires. It is China’s first coarse-grade semi-fine wool sheep. The sheep are sturdy in constitution, well-proportioned, and of medium size. Both rams and ewes are hornless, with fleece covering the area up to the eyes. They have deep and wide chests, straight backs, cylindrical bodies, and an upright posture. Their fleece has a brush-like structure, with large wavy curls; the wool is lustrous and uniform in quality.

　　The Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture is the region with the highest concentration of the Yi ethnic group in China. Sheep are among the livestock that the Yi people must slaughter for weddings, funerals, festivals, visiting relatives, and entertaining honored guests—second only to cattle in importance. The Liangshan Semi-Fine Wool Sheep are a traditional production and living resource for the Yi people, with moderate pricing, making them irreplaceable in Yi life. The breeding of Liangshan Semi-Fine Wool Sheep began in the late 1950s. By the early 1970s, it entered the stage of fine wool sheep improvement: Xinjiang fine wool sheep were introduced for crossbreeding trials and promoted throughout the prefecture. By 1974, 58,000 improved sheep had been bred, and several state-owned and county-level sheep farms were gradually established. However, since the fine wool improved sheep were not well adapted to the local rainy season's humid and hot climate and were unsuitable for making traditional felt capes and chawas, local enthusiasm for the improved sheep was low, slowing progress. In 1966, semi-fine wool sheep such as Border Leicester and Romney were introduced from abroad and crossbred with fine wool improved offspring. By 1986, there were 118,500 semi-fine wool improved sheep across the prefecture. In 1986, the State Science and Technology Commission and the Ministry of Agriculture included the development of a new 48–50 count coarse-grade semi-fine wool sheep breed in the national “Seventh Five-Year,” “Eighth Five-Year,” and “Ninth Five-Year” key science and technology programs. Led by the Liangshan Prefecture Animal Husbandry Bureau and involving Sichuan Agricultural University, the Sichuan Academy of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, and the Liangshan Prefecture Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Research Institute, a joint effort was launched. By 1995, the new Liangshan Semi-Fine Wool Sheep breed was successfully developed, with a population of over 110,000. Among them, 5,190 were top-grade rams and ewes, 35,237 were graded sheep, and 45,958 were foundation ewes. In 2007, the population reached 223,100, including 145,000 top-grade sheep, which were widely promoted both within and outside the prefecture, demonstrating good adaptability and crossbreeding improvement effects. In October 2009, it passed evaluation by the National Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resources Committee and was officially named. It is China’s first newly bred semi-fine wool sheep breed (certificate No.: Nong 03 Xinzhipin Zheng Shu Di 6 Hao), filling a gap in China’s sheep farming industry.

　　Regional Scope

　　The production area of the Liangshan Semi-Fine Wool Sheep geographical indication livestock product includes 472 towns, 2,949 administrative villages, and 5,512 villager groups across 13 counties in the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province: Huili, Ningnan, Puge, Butuo, Zhaojue, Jinyang, Meigu, Leibo, Yuexi, Ganluo, Xide, Mianning, and Yan Yuan. The total area covers 37,710 square kilometers. Its geographic coordinates are longitude 108°04' to 103°52' and latitude 26°03' to 29°18'. The protected area spans 2,694 square kilometers, with a production area of 1,536 square kilometers. Annual inventory is 1.87 million sheep, with an annual output of 1.54 million.

　　Product Quality and Characteristic Features

　　(1) Sensory Characteristics of Liangshan Semi-Fine Wool Lamb Meat: After slaughtering, the meat is plump, firm, brightly colored, glossy, juicy, uniformly red, moist to the touch without stickiness, with resilient and elastic muscle fibers. The carcass is covered with a thin layer of evenly distributed white fat and is free of any strong odor. The boiled lamb broth is clear and transparent, with fat globules floating on the surface, exuding a rich aroma and full flavor, characterized by freshness, fragrance, and richness. (2) Internal Quality Indicators and Flavor Characteristics of Liangshan Semi-Fine Wool Lamb Meat: Tests show that Liangshan Semi-Fine Wool Sheep meat contains 70.90% moisture, 23.31% protein, 7.34% fat, and 0.85% ash. The muscle is rich in various amino acids, including 4.93% lysine, 1.85% histidine, 3.89% ammonia acid, 2.64% threonine, 2.75% valine, 1.24% methionine, 2.69% isoleucine, 4.77% leucine, and 2.37% phenylalanine. The slaughter rate is high, and the fresh meat is pure in color with a delicate fragrance. The cooked meat is tender, delicious, and the broth is richly aromatic with a unique flavor. (3) Safety Production and Product Quality Control: The production environment, feed environment, breeding management, drinking water, use of veterinary drugs, and disease prevention all comply with the relevant regulations for geographical indication protection.