Karakul_(sheep)

Karakul sheep

Karakul sheep

Breed of domestic sheep originating in Central Asia

Karakul or Qaraqul (named after Qorakoʻl, a city in Bukhara Region in Uzbekistan) is a breed of domestic fat-tailed sheep which originated in Central Asia. Some archaeological evidence points to Karakul sheep being raised there continuously since 1400 BC.[1]

Karakul sheep in Akron Zoo

Hailing from the desert regions of Central Asia, Karakul sheep are renowned for their ability to forage and thrive under extremely harsh living conditions. They can survive severe drought conditions because they store reserves for lean times as fat in their tails. Karakul are also raised in large numbers in Namibia, having first been brought there by German colonists in the early 20th century.[2] They are currently listed as endangered.[2]

Use by humans

Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Founder of Pakistan, wearing a Karakul hat.

Karakul sheep are a multi-purpose breed, kept for milking, meat, pelts, and wool. As a fat-tailed breed, they have a distinctive meat. Many adult Karakul are double-coated; in this case, spinners separate the coarse guard hair from the undercoat. Karakul is a relatively coarse fiber used for outer garments, carpets and for felting.[citation needed]

The meat from the sheep, and especially the fat from the tail end, is an important ingredient in Uzbek cuisine.[3]

Karakul pelts

Washing of slaughtered lambs in Namibia

Very young or even fetal Karakul lambs are prized for pelts. Newborn karakul sheep pelts are called karakul (also spelled caracul), swakara (portmanteau of South West Africa Karakul), astrakhan (Russian and French), Persian lamb, agnello di Persia (Italian), krimmer (Russian) and garaköli bagana (Turkmen). Sometimes the terms for newborn lambs' and fetal lambs' pelts are used interchangeably.[4] The newborn lambs have a tight, curly pattern of hair. The lambs must be under three days old when they are killed, or they will lose their black color and soft, tightly wound coils of fur.[5] Dark colors are dominant and lambs often darken in color as they age. Fetal karakul lamb pelts are called broadtail, Breitschwanz (German), and karakulcha. Fetal karakul lambs are harvested through miscarriages, induced early delivery or by killing the mother sheep and removing the fetus.[6] Rather than killing healthy female sheep, farmers will kill older sheep that have already given birth many times.[6] People use the lamb pelts to create various clothing items, such as the Astrakhan or karakul hat.[7] The pelts have also been used in haute couture.[8][9]

References

  1. [1]
    "Karakul". Breeds of Livestock. Oklahoma State University, Dept. of Animal Science. Retrieved 2009-04-17.
  2. [2]
    Forde, Kevin (2018-11-20). "Weird Sheep Breeds - Karakul Sheep | THATSFARMING.COM". That's Farming. Archived from the original on 2019-07-26. Retrieved 2019-07-26.
  3. [3]
    Buell, Paul David; Anderson, Eugene N.; Moya, Montserrat de Pablo; Oskenbay, Moldir, eds. (2020). "Uzbekistan's Food". Crossroads of Cuisine: The Eurasian Heartland, the Silk Roads and Food. BRILL. pp. 221–34. ISBN 9789004432109.
  4. [4]
    "HSUS Investigation: Karakul Sheep and Lamb Slaughter for the Fur Trade" (PDF). The Humane Society of the United States. March 2001 [July 2000]. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-07-25. Retrieved 2009-04-17.
  5. [5]
    "Karakul Sheep: Bright-eyed and Broad-tailed". Hobby Farms. 3 November 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  6. [6]
    Wilson, Eric (11 August 2005). "The Lamb on the Runway". New York Times. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  7. [7]
    Associated Press (April 24, 2002). "Hamid Karzai's Famous Hat Made From Aborted Lamb Fetuses". Fox News. Archived from the original on May 1, 2008. Retrieved April 17, 2009.
  8. [8]
    "Astrakhan: Hot "New" Fashion is the Same Old Cruelty". The Humane Society of the United States. August 12, 2005. Archived from the original on June 12, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-17.
  9. [9]
    Associated Press (May 27, 2007). "Karakuls burst upon the fashion world". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2009-04-17.
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