Shiping Green Sheep

Shiping Green Sheep

The Shiping Green Sheep is a product with geographical indication status for agricultural products.

　　The Shiping Green Sheep is distinguished by its bluish-gray body fleece and is a dual-purpose local breed developed through prolonged natural selection and domestication. It has been bred for approximately 250 years, and due to its docile nature, locals refer to it as the “docile sheep.” In the 2006 livestock breed resource survey conducted in our prefecture, it was named Shiping Green Sheep based on its place of origin and physical characteristics. After multiple on-site investigations by expert panels organized at the provincial and prefectural levels, it was recognized as a rare and precious livestock genetic resource unique to Yunnan Province. Among the reported local sheep breeds in China, the Shiping Green Sheep is notable for its elegant fleece color and well-proportioned body. Based on its bluish-gray fleece and the results of “fleece chemical composition” testing, it is inferred that this breed carries genes for bluish-gray fleece. This breed is agile, adept at climbing slopes and rocky terrain, cold-resistant, able to thrive on coarse feed, highly adaptable, disease-resistant, and low-cost to raise. Though it is an unselected, natural sheep breed, it offers high slaughter and lean meat yields, thin skin, bright red meat, delicate texture, no gamy odor, delicious flavor, and rich nutrition—all of which point to strong potential for production, application, and economic development. However, there is no documented evidence regarding the origins or evolutionary path of the Shiping Green Sheep to its current form. According to the “Mao (Fur/Sheep)” section in Volume Three of the Shiping Prefecture Annals from the 24th year of Qianlong’s reign (1759): “Horses, cattle, sheep...”, it is estimated that the breed has been raised for about 250 years. Local Yi elders recount that their ancestors have kept these sheep for generations. Since the primary production area lies in the high-altitude mountainous regions inhabited by the Yi people—with limited transportation—the Yi traditionally slaughter sheep for weddings, funerals, and other important ceremonies. Women use the hide of the green sheep for cushioning and the woolen felt for warmth, rainproofing, and moisture resistance. Under the influence of the Yi people's production, lifestyle, customs, and the local natural environment, and after prolonged natural selection and domestication, the Shiping Green Sheep has evolved into a distinctive local breed with relatively consistent physique and appearance. The conservation of the Shiping Green Sheep has garnered high attention from authorities at all levels. In 2009, it was included in the Yunnan Province Livestock Genetic Resources Conservation List, and in 2010, it was added to the National Livestock Genetic Resources Conservation List. The Shiping County Animal Husbandry Technology Extension Station participated in the implementation of the “Honghe Prefecture Livestock Genetic Resources Survey and Conservation Project,” for which the Shiping Green Sheep germplasm won the Yunnan Provincial Agricultural Technology Extension First Prize in 2009. The “Shiping Green Sheep Genetic Resources Survey and Conservation Project” received the Honghe Prefecture Science and Technology Progress Third Prize in 2010. In 2011, a conservation farm for the green sheep was established in Tuolonghei Village, Shuiguachong Village Committee, Shachong Town, further strengthening the protection efforts for the Shiping Green Sheep.

　　The Shiping Green Sheep is distributed in Longwu, Shachong, and Longpeng towns in Shiping County, Yunnan Province. It is a dual-purpose local sheep genetic resource and has been included in both the Yunnan Province and China Livestock Genetic Resources Protection Directories.

　　Geographic Scope

　　The Shiping Green Sheep is primarily produced within Shiping County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, covering nine towns including Yilong, Baoxiu, Baxin, Longpeng, Shachong, Longwu, Niujiang, Daqiao, and Xincheng. The geographical coordinates span from 102°08′ to 102°43′ east longitude and 23°19′ to 24°06′ north latitude. The region stretches 88 kilometers from north to south and 59 kilometers from east to west, encompassing a breeding area of 3,037 square kilometers, with an annual inventory of 50,000 sheep.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　(1) External Sensory Characteristics Body: The Shiping Green Sheep is of medium size, with a well-proportioned and robust build, nearly rectangular in shape. It is particularly adept at moving nimbly and climbing slopes and rocks. Fleece Color: The breed is characterized by its bluish-gray body fleece, which covers the body well. The fleece on the neck, back, and sides is predominantly bluish-gray, accounting for 85%, with 15% brownish. The hair on the head, belly, forelegs below the wrist joints, and hind legs below the hock joints is short, coarse, and black (spiky). The fleece has moderate grease and sweat content, with an average fleece length of 7.41 cm, and the skin is white. Head: The head is of moderate size, with a broad forehead shaped like a triangle. The bridge of the nose is prominent, the ears are small, flexible, and not droopy, and the eyes are small but lively. Both rams and ewes are generally polled (90%), with a small percentage having either small horns (10%) or vestigial horns that are thick and shaped like an inverted V, typically gray-black in color. Neck: The neck is of moderate length, thickness, and neither too fat nor thin, with no dewlap or folds. Body: The chest is wide and deep, the ribs are slightly arched, the back and loin are straight, the rump is slightly sloped, the hindquarters are somewhat elevated, and the belly is flat without sagging. Limbs: The limbs are slender and long, with hard, sturdy hooves, most commonly black, with some gray-black. (2) Internal Quality Indicators: The Shiping Green Sheep has thin skin, bright red meat, delicate texture, no gamy smell, a delicious taste, and is rich in nutrients. It contains ≥18.5% protein, ≤25% crude fat, ≥17.5% total amino acids, and ≤78% moisture. (3) Quality and Safety Standards: The national mandatory technical specifications, specific contents, and related legal regulations that market access for the registered product must comply with are clearly defined. Production strictly adheres to the People’s Republic of China National Standard GB9961-2001 “Fresh and Frozen Carcass Mutton.”