Abaga Wuranke Sheep

Abaga Wuranke Sheep

Abaga Wuranke Sheep is a geographical indication certification trademark.

Abaga Wuranke Sheep is an agricultural product geographical indication.

　　Historical records indicate that "Wuranke" was one of the Mongol tribes originally residing in the Tangnu Mountain area in northwestern Mongolia, hence the name "Tangnu Wuranke." According to the Draft History of Qing, "In the 27th year of Kangxi's reign (1688), to escape the warfare caused by Galdan, the Wuranke people living in the Tangnu Mountain area at the time led their livestock and migrated southeastward to settle within the territory of the Left Wing Banner of Abaga. A few years later, most of the Wuranke people returned to the Tangnu Mountain area, but some remained there with their livestock. At the time, the king of Abaga Banner decreed that those who wished to return to Tangnu should do so promptly, while those who chose to stay must submit to the Abaga tribe. Since the Wuranke people considered the land auspicious, they agreed to stay and were incorporated under the Left Wing Banner of Abaga, divided into six sumus (administrative divisions). This has been over 300 years ago. Throughout this long historical evolution, the Wuranke sheep, along with their owners, gradually developed into a unique local breed—the Wuranke sheep—through natural selection in the specific ecological environment and careful breeding by herders. In June 2009, it was reviewed and identified as a livestock genetic resource by the National Poultry and Livestock Genetic Resources Committee and included in the National Livestock Genetic Resources Inventory.

　　Wuranke Sheep

　　Region: Inner Mongolia

　　Applicant: Abaga Banner Animal Husbandry Workstation

　　Region: 2013

　　Geographic Scope

　　The protected production area of Wuranke Sheep, a geographical indication agricultural product, covers 71 villages across six sumus and towns in Abaga Banner, Xilin Gol League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region: Jirgalangtu Sumu, Yihegaole Sumu, Narenbaolige Sumu, Bairgutai Town, Honggeer Gaole Town, and Chagan Nur Town. It is located in the central-northern part of Xilin Gol League, between 113°28′ to 116°11′ east longitude and 43°05′ to 45°26′ north latitude. To the east, it neighbors Dong Ujimqin Banner and Xilinhot City; to the west, it borders Sonid Left Banner; to the south, it adjoins Zhenglan Banner; and to the north, it borders Mongolia, with a 175 km borderline. The total grassland area spans 27,000 square kilometers. The annual sheep inventory is 1.1 million, with 589,000 sheep slaughtered yearly.

　　Product Quality and Characteristic Features

　　Wuranke Sheep (Wu Ranke sheep) are of the Khalkha Mongolian sheep lineage, belonging to the meat-type short-fat-tailed coarse-wool sheep category. They are an outstanding subgroup of Mongolian sheep. Formed through long-term natural selection and artificial breeding under the specific ecological conditions of Abaga Banner’s grasslands in Xilin Gol League—including unique light, temperature, humidity, precipitation, water quality, terrain, and soil—the Wuranke sheep are a locally bred superior variety. They are known for rapid growth, cold resistance, good herding behavior, stable genetic traits, multiple vertebrae and ribs, high lean meat ratio, and excellent meat quality. 1. Unique Sensory Characteristics: Wuranke sheep mainly have yellow (or brownish-blue) heads (and necks) with white bodies. They are large-bodied with relatively small heads, wide foreheads, and raised noses. Their eyes are large and prominent, with medium-length necks that are thick at the base and slightly raised withers. Some individuals have manes on the upper neck. Their chests are broad and deep, with prominent forequarters, arched ribs, and chests about half the body height. The back and loin are flat and wide, with long bodies and well-developed hindquarters, muscular and full-bodied, with the cross area slightly lower than the withers. The tail is square or round-shaped, with similar length and width, featuring a slight vertical groove along the midline, a slender and upward-curled tail tip that is either tightly tucked into the groove or takes the form of an S-shaped small tail tip. The overall body structure is symmetrical, the physique is robust, bones are strong, muscles are well-developed, skin is dense and elastic, and the wool is thick, dense, and downy. Around 50% of rams have horns, while ewes generally do not. Minimum production indicators include: 1.1 Lamb birth weight: ram lambs 4.3 kg, ewe lambs 4.0 kg; 4-month weight: ram lambs 35 kg. 1.2 Meat production performance: slaughter rate of adult wethers 55%, 1.5-year-old wethers 52%, 6-month-old wethers 50%; net meat rate of adult wethers 45%, 1.5-year-old wethers 42%, 6-month-old wethers 40%. 1.3 Breeding performance: ewe lambing rate 112%. 2. Unique Internal Quality Indicators: Wuranke lamb meat features a rich aroma, tender texture, and pleasant taste. Protein content is over 21.0g/100g, average subcutaneous fat is 17.0g/100g, and total amino acid content is around 19.0g/100g for frozen meat. 3. Product Safety Quality: Compliant with laws and regulations such as the Agricultural Product Quality and Safety Law and the Animal Epidemic Prevention Law. Production strictly follows the pollution-free livestock product standards and specifications of NY5027, NY5147, and NY5149. Slaughter quarantine of meat sheep must be carried out according to the Ministry of Agriculture’s NY467—2001 "Hygienic Quarantine Standards for Livestock and Poultry Slaughter," ensuring pre-slaughter, post-slaughter, and post-inspection handling. The hygiene standards of lamb products must meet the National Quality Inspection Bureau's GB2723 "Hygiene Standards for Fresh Beef, Fresh Lamb, and Fresh Rabbit Meat" and GB2709 "Hygiene Standards for Frozen Lamb."