Laoheqiao Lamb

Laoheqiao Lamb

Laoheqiao Lamb is a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Laoheqiao Village is a purely Hui ethnic settlement. As early as the Ming and Qing dynasties, during market days in the urban area of Wuzhong, herders from nearby Huai County in Gansu and Yanchi pastoral areas would drive their cattle and sheep to trade, and Laoheqiao was an essential route. After the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in the 1980s, local resident Yang Guohua came to Laoheqiao to engage in cattle and sheep slaughtering. Gradually, he mobilized locals' expertise in butchering and selling livestock products. By 1989, along the 150-meter stretch of highway under the Laoheqiao Bridge, every household had joined the slaughtering business. Due to the local sources of halal beef and lamb, as well as cultural traditions, all meat underwent halal processing. The business integrity unique to the locals and fair trading practices, where no one—whether young or old—was deceived, along with tender, fat-rich yet non-greasy meat at affordable prices, led to rapid growth of Laoheqiao Lamb.

　　Production Area

　　The production area of Laoheqiao Halal Lamb includes five townships under the jurisdiction of Wuzhong City: Shangqiao Town, Guojiaqiao Township, Jijitown, Biandan’gou Town, and Sunjiatan Management Committee. Its geographical coordinates are longitude 106°6′–106°22′ and latitude 37°30′–38°08′, with terrain elevation ranging between 1126 and 1127 meters. The region is mainly plains. To the west lies the Yellow River, bordering Qingtongxia City; to the south it borders the Hongsibu Development Zone; to the northeast it adjoins Lingwu City; and it is 59 kilometers away from Yinchuan, the capital of Ningxia. The area stretches 70 kilometers from north to south and 20 kilometers from east to west, covering a total area of 1,112 square kilometers. Annual total production is 300,000 sheep, totaling 2,200 metric tons.

　　Natural Ecological Environment and Humanistic Historical Factors

　　(1) Soil and Topography: The topography of Litong District in Wuzhong City is uniquely diverse, combining the charm of southern water towns with the rugged beauty of northern deserts. The terrain is higher in the south and lower in the north, resembling the shape of a vase, and is broadly divided into two parts. The southern part consists of hilly areas formed by the convergence of the Niushou Mountain and Luoshan Mountain ranges, while the northern part, along the Qin Canal, Han Canal, and both banks of the Yellow River, is part of the Yellow River Plain. Excluding hills and riverbanks, the land is divided into new and old irrigation zones, accounting for 11% and 38% of the total land area, respectively. Shangqiao Town, Guojiaqiao Township, and Jijitown belong to the old irrigation zone, while Biandan’gou Town and Sunjiatan Management Committee belong to the new irrigation zone.

　　(2) Hydrology: The water resources of Wuzhong City mainly rely on the Yellow River flowing through the area and groundwater. The Yellow River traverses the region, covering a distance of 28 kilometers within the district. The average annual water diversion across the whole area is 689 million cubic meters, accounting for 17% of Ningxia’s total Yellow River irrigation water. Another water system is the Kushui River (also known as Shanshuigou), which runs through the area for 54 kilometers and is the largest natural drainage river in the district, with a maximum flood discharge capacity of 80 cubic meters per second.

　　(3) Climate: Wuzhong City has a continental monsoon climate, classified as a mid-temperate semi-arid zone. It features late spring warmth, short hot summers, early cool autumns, and long cold winters. The annual average temperature is 8.8°C, relative humidity is 53%, annual average sunshine duration reaches 2,936.4 hours, and the average frost-free period is 173.6 days. Key characteristics include drought and low rainfall, intense evaporation, scarce and concentrated precipitation, large temperature variations, short frost-free periods, and relatively long sunshine hours. The average annual precipitation is 193.4 mm, mostly concentrated in July, August, and September, often occurring as heavy rain, which easily forms runoff. The average annual evaporation is 2,013.7 mm, ten times the amount of rainfall.

　　(4) Humanistic and Historical Background: Wuzhong City is rich in resources and talent, renowned as the “Jiangnan of the Frontier” due to its long history, important geographical location, abundant produce, and strong economic power. It shines brightly in the heart of the Ningxia Plain and enjoys widespread fame. As a county-level district of Wuzhong City, it is also the seat of the Wuzhong Municipal Government, serving as the political, economic, and cultural hub of the region, as well as the largest livestock product trading and distribution center in northwest China. The Yellow River runs from south to north through the urban area, which features flat terrain, fertile soil, crisscrossing canals, ample sunshine, and reliable harvests regardless of drought or flood. The area boasts lush forests and abundant grain. It produces key crops such as wheat, corn, and soybeans, with rich forage supply, offering ample material conditions for livestock development. The southern Loess Plateau is suitable for both forestry and animal husbandry and is an important production area for Ningxia Tan sheep and Sha Mao goats. Major mountain ranges include Luoshan, Niushou Mountain, Xiangshan, among which Luoshan is one of Ningxia’s three major natural forest areas. Additionally, the Hui and Han residents of the urban area have accumulated extensive breeding experience over the years. The sheep meat industry has become a leading sector for increasing farmers’ income, with very solid foundational conditions. In recent years, Wuzhong City has accelerated the transformation from traditional to modern animal husbandry, actively promoting agricultural industrialization, based on the broader goals of reform, development, and stability. It has basically established dominant industrial systems including the dairy industry, halal beef and lamb industry, and high-quality forage planting and processing. It is recognized as a national-level demonstration zone for high-yield, high-efficiency, and high-quality agricultural transformation, as well as a model county for agricultural industrialization.

　　Production Technical Requirements

　　(1) Origin Selection and Special Provisions: The production area of Wuzhong Laoheqiao Halal Lamb includes five townships under the jurisdiction of Wuzhong City: Shangqiao Town, Guojiaqiao Township, Jijitown, Biandan’gou Town, and Sunjiatan Management Committee.

　　(2) Breed Selection and Specific Requirements: Local Ningxia Tan sheep breeds are selected, and wethers aged 1–2 years are fattened before being sent to market.

　　(3) Production Process Management, Including Special Regulations on Agricultural Inputs: The site should comply with the principles outlined in GB/T18407.3, selecting locations that are sheltered from wind, exposed to sunlight, situated on high, dry, and flat terrain, with good water quality, sufficient water sources, proper drainage, convenient transportation, no pollution in the surrounding area, and ease of epidemic prevention. Consideration must also be given to forage conditions, in line with the living habits of meat sheep and local social and natural conditions. There should be no pollution sources such as chemical plants, meat processing plants, tanneries, slaughterhouses, or livestock farms within a 3-kilometer radius of the sheep farm. The farm should be more than 1 kilometer away from towns, residential areas, and public spaces, and more than 300 meters away from major traffic routes.

　　(4) When using therapeutic drugs, compliance with NY5148 is required. Complete records of all medications used must be established and retained, including individual sheep identification numbers, onset time and symptoms, drug names (brand name, active ingredients, manufacturing entity), administration methods, dosages, treatment duration, and treatment times for therapeutic medications. Records for preventive or growth-promoting medicated feed should include drug names (brand name, active ingredients, manufacturing entity and batch number), dosage, and treatment duration. During the later stages of sheep fattening, if medications or medicated additives are used, the withdrawal period specified for the drugs must be observed. Animals that have not completed the withdrawal period cannot be sold as premium-quality meat sheep.

　　(5) Product Harvesting, Slaughtering, Catching, and Post-production Processing Regulations:

　　① All sheep entering the slaughterhouse must use designated entry channels. On-site quarantine officers are responsible for strictly disinfecting the sheep and transport vehicles entering for slaughter.

　　② All sheep entering the facility must wear immunization ear tags and hold origin quarantine certificates. Sheep without immunization ear tags or quarantine certificates are prohibited from entering for slaughter. Animals awaiting slaughter must come from non-epidemic areas.

　　③ Inspection records must be kept regarding types of feed additives used on animals awaiting slaughter, usage periods, and withdrawal periods, as well as types of veterinary drugs used, medication periods, withdrawal periods, vaccine types, and vaccination records.

　　④ Quarantine officers conduct rigorous clinical health checks on sheep entering for slaughter. Sick animals are strictly prohibited from entering for slaughter. If a suspected Class I infectious disease is detected, it must be reported immediately to the local animal epidemic prevention supervision department.

　　⑤ Sheep that pass the above inspection procedures enter a holding pen for a 12-hour quarantine and observation period. They may only be slaughtered by an imam after no suspicious conditions arise.

　　⑥ Quarantine personnel must complete detailed entry quarantine records and properly safeguard and document all collected quarantine certificates.

　　(6) Production Record Requirements: Accurate, reliable, and complete records must be maintained for all sheep owned by breeders, including records of introduction, purchase, breeding, lambing, lactation, weaning, weight gain, and feed consumption; records of feed and forage sources, formulations, and additive usage; disease prevention and control records; and sales and distribution records. These records must be retained for at least three years.

　　Typical Quality Characteristics and Product Quality Safety Standards

　　(1) External Sensory Characteristics: Laoheqiao Halal Lamb is primarily sold as cut meat. The lamb fat is evenly distributed, the meat is tender, free from gaminess or off-odors, and has a delicious flavor.

　　(2) Internal Quality Indicators: Each 100 grams of Laoheqiao Halal Lamb contains approximately 11.1–13.3 grams of protein, 15 mg of calcium, 168 mg of phosphorus, 3 mg of iron, and 307–367 kcal of energy. It has high protein content and low fat. Its protein content is lower than beef but higher than other meats; its amino acid content is higher than other meats; it is rich in vitamins and minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, and iron, with magnesium and zinc levels significantly exceeding those of other meats; and its cholesterol content is lower compared to other meats. For example, cholesterol content in 100 grams of edible lean meat: Lamb: 65 mg; Beef: 63 mg; Duck: 80 mg; Rabbit: 83 mg; Chicken: 117 mg. It contains volatile fatty acids, giving it a distinctive flavor favored by many.

　　(3) Safety Requirements: In accordance with laws and regulations such as the Animal Epidemic Prevention Law and the Regulations on the Administration of Breeding Livestock and Poultry, as well as the standards for the production of pollution-free livestock products, management of breeding bases is strengthened. Advanced production and management technologies are introduced and adopted to improve production efficiency and reduce costs. The national standards for pollution-free food production, including NY5032, NY/T5151, NY5030, NY5149, and NY5147, are strictly enforced.

　　(3) Safety Requirements: In accordance with laws and regulations such as the "Animal Epidemic Prevention Law" and the "Regulations on the Administration of Breeding Livestock and Poultry," as well as the production standards for pollution-free livestock products, management of breeding bases shall be strengthened. Production efficiency shall be improved and production costs reduced by introducing and adopting advanced production and management technologies. The national standards for the production of pollution-free food, including NY5032, NY/T5151, NY5030, NY5149, and NY5147, shall be strictly implemented.

　　Relevant regulations on packaging labels and other specifications

　　In accordance with the NY/T630-2002 mutton quality grading standard, the packaging specification is 20–25 kg per box, stored frozen and transported under full cold-chain conditions.