Ujimqin Lamb

Ujimqin Lamb

Ujimqin Lamb is a protected geographical indication product.

Ujimqin Lamb is an agricultural geographical indication product.

　　Ujimqin Lamb

　　Ujimqin sheep are native to the Ujimqin Grassland in the eastern part of Xilin Gol League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, hence the name. They are mainly distributed in Dong Ujimqin Banner and Xi Ujimqin Banner, as well as parts of adjacent Xilinhot City and Abga Banner. Ujimqin sheep are a dual-purpose (meat and fat) breed of short-tailed, coarse-wooled sheep, known for their large body size, big tails, abundant meat and fat, and fast growth and development of lambs. The Ujimqin sheep have been gradually bred through long-term natural and artificial selection under the region’s specific natural climate and production methods.

　　Physical Characteristics

　　Ujimqin sheep are sturdy and large in build. Their heads are of medium size, with slightly wide foreheads and gently raised nasal bridges. Most rams are hornless, though some have horns, while most ewes are hornless. They have broad and deep chests, well-spread ribs, and a chest depth close to half their body height. Their backs and loins are wide and level, with well-developed hindquarters. The sheep have full muscles and a well-proportioned structure. Their limbs are thick and strong, and they have small fat tails. The majority of the sheep are black-headed, accounting for about 6.2% of the population, while about 10% are entirely white, and around 11% have spotted bodies.

　　Production Performance

　　The management of Ujimqin sheep is extremely extensive, with year-round grazing and no supplemental feeding, except for occasional hay supplementation during heavy snowfall when grazing is not possible. Ujimqin sheep grow and develop relatively quickly: at 2.5–3 months old, the average weight of male and female lambs is 29.5 kg and 24.9 kg respectively; at 6 months old, the averages reach 40 kg and 36 kg. Adult rams weigh 60–70 kg, and adult ewes weigh 56–62 kg. The average carcass weight is 17.90 kg, with a dressing rate of 50%. The average net meat weight is 11.80 kg, and the net meat yield is 33%. Ujimqin lamb has low water content and is rich in minerals such as calcium, iron, and phosphorus, with well-developed muscle fibers and intermuscular fat deposits. The lambing rate is only 100%. Ujimqin sheep are suitable for year-round grazing, characterized by rapid fattening, strong fat accumulation ability, high meat yield, and early sexual maturity. They are ideal for utilizing peak grass growth periods to engage in grazing-based fattening or planned fat lamb production. Additionally, Ujimqin sheep serve as excellent recipient ewes for purebred breeding and embryo transfer, with offspring that are sturdy, disease-resistant, and adaptable.

　　Geographic Range

　　The production area of Ujimqin Lamb, a geographical indication agricultural product, covers five banners (districts) in Xilin Gol League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region: Dong Ujimqin Banner, Xi Ujimqin Banner, Xilinhot City, Abga Banner, and Ulagai Management Area. This includes 23 sumus and 246 gachas within their administrative regions. The geographic coordinates are between 115°10′–119°50′ east longitude and 43°2′–46°30′ north latitude. The average elevation is around 700–1800 meters. The grassland area spans 108,000 square kilometers. The annual stock consists of 3.88 million sheep, with 3.8 million slaughtered annually, generating an annual output value of 1.57 billion yuan.

　　Natural Ecological Environment and Humanistic Historical Factors

　　(1) Soil and Topography: The production area of Ujimqin sheep is mainly characterized by high plateaus, interspersed with hills, flatlands, and low-lying areas. The soils are black calcareous soil, dark chestnut soil, and chestnut soil.

　　The grasslands consist primarily of meadow steppe and dry steppe. There is an abundance of forage resources, with the main plant communities being Stipa grandis + Leymus chinensis. Most forage plants are grasses from the Poaceae family, followed by Asteraceae and Fabaceae, with over 400 types of high-quality plants.

　　(2) Hydrology: The rivers in the Ujimqin sheep production area are inland rivers, belonging to the Balgat River system and the Ulagai River system. Water resources are relatively abundant; surface water is plentiful, totaling 280 million m³, while groundwater resources amount to 2.01 billion m³, with water levels ranging from 0 to 70 meters deep.

　　(3) Climate Conditions: The production area features a typical continental climate, with long and harsh winters lasting about six months, and short, slightly hot summers. The annual average temperature ranges from 0.3–1.3°C, the frost-free period is 108–118 days, and the average annual precipitation is 200–400 mm, while the average annual evaporation is 1700–1800 mm. The average relative humidity is 60%–64%.

　　The snow cover period is relatively long, generally 107–150 days, with an average snow depth of 9–45 cm. Wind speeds are higher in spring and autumn, especially in spring, with average wind speeds of around 20 m/s.

　　(4) Humanistic and Historical Background: Ujimqin sheep are an elite group within the Mongolian sheep system, classified as fat-tailed, coarse-wooled meat sheep. According to the "Brief History of the Mongols," the Tatars of the Khitan period during the Liao Dynasty inhabited what is now northern Xilin Gol League in Inner Mongolia. The "Book of Han – Account of the Xiongnu" also describes scenes of "riding sheep, drawing bows, and shooting birds and rats," suggesting that by around the 7th–8th century, the Ujimqin Grassland already had large numbers of fat-tailed, coarse-wooled sheep. Over time, through prolonged natural and artificial selection under the area’s specific natural climate and production methods, the Ujimqin sheep gradually developed traits such as rapid weight gain from grazing, strong fat retention, cold resistance, large body size, abundant meat, heavy fat tails, fast-growing lambs, and delicious meat. These traits made them a valuable meat sheep resource in China. In 1986, the autonomous region officially named this breed "Ujimqin Sheep."

　　Production Technical Requirements

　　(1) Origin Selection and Special Provisions: Ujimqin sheep are raised under the unique ecological conditions of Ujimqin meadow steppe and dry steppe environments, with distinctive climate, premium forage quality, and a completely natural, pollution-free setting. The sheep are kept using a natural grazing method to maintain the purity of the raw materials.

　　(2) Breed Selection and Specific Requirements: Ujimqin sheep are cold-resistant, tolerant of rough grazing, fast-growing, mature early, and highly resistant to disasters and diseases. Breed selection must comply with GB3822-83 standards.

　　(3) Production Process Management:

　　① Maintain a purely natural grazing method to ensure the purity of raw materials.

　　② Drinking Water Conditions: During summer, spring, and autumn, sheep drink from wells; in winter, natural snow is the primary water source.

　　③ Disease Prevention: Timely vaccinations such as the sheep triple vaccine and foot-and-mouth disease vaccines are administered each year. Deworming is carried out in early spring, and medicinal baths are conducted in summer and autumn. Efforts are strengthened to prevent lamb diseases and improve lambing and survival rates.

　　(4) Ujimqin Lamb Processing:

　　① Slaughter at Appropriate Age: Lambs at 6 months (over 35 kg), adult wethers (over 65 kg), and ewes (over 50 kg).

　　② Slaughter follows Islamic customs, with slaughterhouses complying with GB/T17237 standards, and slaughter inspections performed according to NY/T467 regulations.

　　③ The slaughter must involve complete bloodletting with no blood clots.

　　④ The hide must be removed, along with the head, hooves, and internal organs (including kidneys), as well as sheep fat, major blood vessels, udders, and reproductive organs. The three glands (thyroid, adrenal, and abnormal lymph nodes) must also be removed.

　　Typical Quality Characteristics and Product Safety Standards

　　(1) Physical Characteristics of Wuzhumuqin Sheep: Large frame, sturdy build, deep and long body, well-developed musculature

　　Minimum Production Performance Indicators:

　　Birth weight of lambs: Male lambs 4.3 kg, female lambs 4.0 kg.

　　Weight at six months: Male lambs 35 kg, female lambs 33 kg.

　　Meat Production Performance: Slaughter rate of six-month-old lambs is 50%, net meat yield is 39%, with tender meat quality.

　　Reproductive Performance: Lambing rate of ewes is 105–110%.

　　(2) Flavor Characteristics of Wuzhumuqin Lamb: Known for its rich aroma, tender texture, and pleasant taste. Analysis shows that Wuzhumuqin lamb has lower moisture content and significantly higher dry matter content compared to regular lamb. Adult sheep contain up to 56.19% dry matter, which is 9.06% higher than regular lamb. It also has high levels of glutamic acid, with adult sheep at 13.32 mg/100 g. Essential amino acids for humans are also present in high amounts, particularly lysine, the first limiting amino acid, which is abundant in adult sheep at 6.59 mg/100 mg.

　　(3) Product Quality Control:

　　① Wuzhumuqin sheep production must comply with GB3822-83 standards.

　　② Meat sheep slaughter quarantine must follow the Ministry of Agriculture’s NY467-2001 "Livestock and Poultry Slaughter Hygiene Quarantine Standards," including pre-slaughter inspection, post-slaughter examination, and post-inspection handling.

　　③ Hygiene indicators for 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."

　　④ Product production and sales must adhere to relevant laws and regulations such as the "Agricultural Product Quality and Safety Law" and the "Animal Epidemic Prevention Law."

　　Packaging and Labeling Regulations

　　(1) Cutting Requirements: Cut and package meat cuts according to demand.

　　(2) Frozen Processing: For frozen lamb, the deep core temperature must reach 0°C–4°C within 24 hours, and the deep core temperature of frozen lamb must not exceed –15°C.

　　(3) Product Packaging: The packaging room temperature must be below 15°C.

　　(4) Storage: Fresh meat refrigerators must be kept clean and hygienic, with temperatures maintained at 0°C–4°C. Frozen meat in cold storage must be stacked by category on pallets, clearly labeled, and kept at a certain distance from walls, ceilings, and pipes, with temperatures below –18°C.

　　(5) Transportation: Fresh meat must not be transported uncovered. When loading fresh or frozen meat, do not step on or let it touch the ground. Transport containers and vehicles must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before and after use.