Ulan Chaka Sheep

Ulan Chaka Sheep

Ulan Chaka Sheep are a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Ulan Chaka Sheep are a specialty of Chaka Town, Ulan County, Haixi Prefecture, Qinghai Province. They are a semi-fine wool sheep breed native to the Qinghai Plateau used for both meat and wool. The meat is rich in minerals and vitamins, with tender texture, rich flavor, no gaminess, and not greasy. Since ancient times, they have been known as “Tribute Sheep.” Ulan Chaka Sheep are a nationally protected geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Ulan Chaka Sheep are a semi-fine wool sheep breed from the Qinghai Plateau, raised in the area surrounding Chaka Salt Lake in Ulan County. Since ancient times, “Chaka Sheep” from Ulan County have enjoyed the reputation of being court “Tribute Sheep,” renowned across the province and beyond for their tender meat, pure flavor, richness without greasiness, and high nutritional value. Currently, the usable grassland area in the Chaka region is 2.85 million mu, with about 210,000 sheep and an annual output value of 47.8 million yuan. The unique geographical location and special climate environment have nurtured the premium Ulan Chaka Sheep lineage, making it one of the brightest gems in China’s beef and mutton industry.

　　Chaka Sheep typically graze on natural forage rich in minerals and high in salt content—purely natural and pollution-free, making it a natural home for “green food.” They also consume large amounts of medicinal plants such as goji berries, Cynomorium, notoginseng, Fritillaria, and astragalus. The distinctive geography and unique climate have cultivated this superior breed. Chaka Lamb contains 22–28% protein, and minerals such as calcium, iron, and zinc all exceed 1.33%. With tender meat, pure flavor, richness without greasiness, smooth texture, and rich nutrition, it is truly a natural green food. It can both ward off cold and nourish the body, and is effective in treating and improving various conditions such as common cold-induced coughs, chronic bronchitis, deficiency-cold asthma, kidney deficiency and impotence, abdominal cold pain, physical weakness and cold intolerance, soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, sallow complexion and emaciation, dual deficiency of qi and blood, and post-illness or postpartum debilitation—all types of deficiency syndromes. It is especially suitable for winter consumption and thus known as a winter tonic, enjoying great popularity. In ancient times, Chaka Sheep were honored as court “Tribute Sheep.”

　　To further develop and strengthen the advantageous industry, the town’s Party committee and government have always attached great importance, making the branding of Chaka Sheep one of the town’s top priorities, actively adopting effective measures to promote agriculture and animal husbandry. Starting in 2010, six ecological animal husbandry cooperatives were established in pastoral villages across the town. Currently, 239 herding households have voluntarily joined the cooperatives, with an 86% participation rate. At the same time, the town has actively explored business models such as “company + farmer (herder),” “company + cooperative + farmer (herder),” and “company + cooperative + farmer (herder) + market.” In 2011, “Qinghai Window,” a company with a well-established product sales network, scientific breeding concepts, and technology, was introduced through investment, leading to the establishment of Ulan Jiren Eco-Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Co., Ltd. With its advanced management philosophy, scientific breeding methods, and comprehensive sales network, the company follows the “company + cooperative + herder” model, increases grassland transfer, develops moderately scaled breeding, and promotes the transformation of grassland animal husbandry from traditional and extensive practices to quality- and benefit-oriented operations.

　　Ulan Chaka Sheep have successfully obtained the Agricultural Product Geographical Indication Registration Certificate from the Ministry of Agriculture of the People’s Republic of China. This is the first agricultural product geographical indication certified in our prefecture, which is of great significance for exploring, cultivating, and developing the traditional and geographically distinctive “Chaka Sheep” brand in Chaka region, protecting the unique production environment of Chaka, enhancing the unique product quality of Chaka Sheep, strengthening the market competitiveness of Chaka Sheep products, and promoting regional economic development of animal husbandry in our county.

　　Geographic Scope

　　The protected breeding area for Ulan Chaka Sheep is within Chaka Town, Ulan County, Qinghai Province. The geographic coordinates of Ulan are: longitude 99°01′ to 99°27′ east, latitude 36°19′ to 36°20′ north; it spans 80 km from east to west and 30 km from north to south, covering a total area of 12,858.16 square kilometers. The suitable production area spans longitude 98°54′ to 99°27′ east, latitude 36°41′ to 36°50′ north; it is 80 km wide from east to west and 70 km wide from north to south, covering an area of 56 square kilometers.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. External Sensory Characteristics: The appearance of Qinghai Plateau semi-fine wool sheep and improved semi-fine wool sheep varies depending on the sire breed selected. In the Chaka region, where improvement efforts have a longer history, the introduction of Romney Marsh and Merino bloodlines has resulted in semi-fine and improved semi-fine wool sheep resembling the Romney–Merino type. These sheep have well-proportioned bodies, short and broad heads, wide foreheads, straight noses, short and thick muzzles, well-integrated shoulders and forequarters, deep and broad chests, well-developed bones, straight backs, broad and flat loins, full hindquarters, relatively short limbs, solid hooves, often light black in color. The meat is tender, flavorful, rich but not greasy, smooth and palatable, with an authentic and genuine taste—truly a natural green food. 2. Internal Quality Indicators: The lamb meat is of high quality and nutritional value. Moisture ≥65.0%, total protein 22–28.0% (actual value 28%); total fat 4.0–5.5% (actual value 6.0%); crude fiber ≤0.15% (actual value 0.1%); cholesterol ≤700 mg/kg; it is rich in 17 amino acids, with a total amino acid content of 19.01%. 3. Safety Requirements: Sanitary indicators comply with the standards set in NY5147-2002 “Pollution-Free Food Lamb.”