Tianjun Tibetan Sheep

Tianjun Tibetan Sheep

Tianjun Tibetan Sheep is a product with a geographical indication for agricultural products.

　　Tianjun Tibetan Sheep, short for the Tibetan sheep breed of Tianjun, is a coarse-wool sheep variety successfully bred by the Tibetan people of Tianjun over a long period in the unique environment of high altitude and extreme cold. Tibetan sheep are both a means of production and livelihood for the Tibetan people and serve as an advantageous and prioritized breed for the development of animal husbandry. They are well-adapted to the plateau’s oxygen-scarce environment, possess sturdy physiques, and have a strong resistance to snowstorms and harsh weather. Lambs can survive even when temperatures drop below minus thirty degrees Celsius. During winter and spring when fodder is scarce, their foraging ability is particularly strong. They do not disrupt ecological balance; on the contrary, they contribute positively to the enrichment of natural grasslands and the stimulation of grass growth. Tianjun Tibetan Sheep are elegant in appearance and move with steadiness. Their wool is dense and covers their bodies like inverted willow catkins, mostly forming conical, medium-to-long hair tufts. These tufts come in two styles: straight and long, or large and curly. They have long, slender limbs, a rectangular body shape, and a prominent, raised nose bridge. A small number of Tibetan sheep have a fuzz on their foreheads, and their faces are delicate. Their chests are deep and broad, and the chest fork meat is considered a delicacy among lamb cuts—delicious and memorable. Their tails have a triangular wedge-shaped base, and the small tail resembles a young girl’s braid, about four or five centimeters wide and 18 centimeters long, swaying playfully and endearingly. Both male and female sheep have horns; some individuals even have 3–5 horns. The majority, however, have two horns that curve outward and upward with distinct ridges. Female horns are smaller and flatter than those of the males. Their bodies are mostly white, with the head and hooves often being multicolored—pure black Tibetan sheep are very rare. Lamb skins are highly valuable. “Black-purple lamb pelts” are famous both within and outside the province and are exceptionally rare.

　　Geographical Scope

　　Tianjun County is under the jurisdiction of Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. It is located west of Qinghai Lake, in the central southern part of the Qilian Mountains, bordering Gangcha County of Haibei Prefecture to the northeast; bordering Gonghe County of Hainan Prefecture to the southeast; connected to Wulan County and Delingha City of the same prefecture to the south and west; and adjacent to Subei County of Gansu Province to the north. Geographically, it lies between 96°49' to 99°42' east longitude and 36°54' to 39°12' north latitude, extending from northwest to southeast, roughly parallel to the Shule South Mountain and Tuole South Mountain, and slightly wedge-shaped as it inserts into the middle section of the Qilian Mountains. The county currently administers three towns and seven townships: Xinyuan Town, Muli Town, Jianghe Town, Kuerma Township, Zhihema Township, Zhouqun Township, Shengge Township, Yangkang Township, Suli Township, and Longmen Township. There are currently 676,000 head of Tianjun Tibetan Sheep in the county. The total area of the county is 2.5723 million hectares, with usable grassland covering 1.2902 million hectares, accounting for 50.16% of the total land area.