At present, people in the producing areas are still called white sheep or sheep. Later, it was found that the fur produced by this kind of sheep has a beautiful ear shape, which is very different from other sheep breeds. Most of them graze on the grass beach. In order to facilitate the difference, they called this kind of sheep "beach-skinned sheep". This kind of sheep with "beach skin" is called beach sheep in animal husbandry. Huanxian Tan sheep originated from Mongolian sheep, which is a unique sheep breed for fur after long-term careful selection by working people under specific natural conditions. Historically, it was a place where Mongolian people managed animal husbandry. Geographically, Tan sheep producing area is surrounded by Mongolian sheep. Historically, Sheung Wan County has a vast territory and a sparsely populated area, with vast grasslands. It used to be a place where Mongolians and ethnic groups exchanged goods, which made Mongolian sheep migrate to the south. Under the suitable natural conditions and people's demand for fur and blankets, we began to pay attention to and choose sheep with fine pores, good luster, easy coloring, uniform bending and beautiful patterns, and gradually formed a unique quality of fur sheep different from Mongolian sheep. According to the documents recorded 300 years ago, there are not only beautiful spikes, but also the names of spikes. The Tongzhi of Gansu from the 6th year of Yongzheng in Qing Dynasty to the 1st year of Qianlong (A.D. 1728 ~ 1736) and the Tongzhi of Gansu in the 29th year of Guangxu (A.D. 1903) both recorded carpets and leather garments made of tan sheep products. "Chronicle of Huanxian County" (clothing article) records: "Because the county is rich in tan sheep and fur, it is difficult to import silk products because of inconvenient transportation, and it belongs to the alpine mountainous area. Since ancient times, people have always been clothed with fur, so there is a saying that people in Huan County' eat millet, dress with skin, and walk with donkeys'. In addition to wearing leather clothes, it is also common to wear felt hats, felt clothes, felt pants, felt socks, wool socks, felt belts, felt quilts, felt curtains and felt boots. " "The rich have lambskin and sheepskin; The poor have old sheepskin. " Around 1970s, sheepskin coats and felts on the beach were still very popular, but other fur products gradually became rare. At present, felt is still loved by people in producing areas. In the Central County Records (Taste), it is also recorded that "there are many beach sheep and mutton in this county. There are clear soup mutton, hand-grabbed mutton, stir-fried mutton and so on. But mutton is the most famous. " "Before and after the Dragon Boat Festival every year, the masses slaughter and eat lambs and take sheepskin before coming out of the mountain. Lambs are fat and tender during lactation, and can be steamed, fried, boiled and seasoned. It tastes delicious, fat but not greasy. " Huan County Tan Sheep also made great contributions to the liberation of New China. According to the records of Huanxian County, "1936 to 1949 passed through the Red Army, the Eighth Route Army and the People's Liberation Army soldiers in Quxian County and Huanxian County (formerly a town in Huanxian County) and received cordial condolences from the local government and the masses". "1936 Battle of Mountain Castle, more than 200 Laojun sheep in Huan County"; "1937, 2350 pairs of socks and gloves of Huanxian Labor Army"; "In 1940, there were 17000 Jin of wool and 6723 pairs of socks and gloves of Laojun in Quzi County"; "In 1946, there were Laojun sheep in Qu and Huan counties 100"; "1949 There were 257 Laojun sheep in Huan County" and "25 Laojun sheep in Quzi County". These laborers' sheep are Huanxian Tan sheep, their socks are made of Tan wool, and their gloves are made of Tan sheep's skin. After liberation, especially since the reform and opening up, due to the attention of the party and the government, the tan sheep in Huanxian County have developed rapidly. The Ministry of Agriculture listed Tan sheep as a national protected variety of livestock and poultry resources. The Development Plan of Superior Region of High-quality Mutton Sheep in Gansu Province lists Huan County as the superior industrial belt of Mutton Sheep in Longzhong Lamb Industrial Development Zone, and implements the protection and comprehensive development and utilization of germplasm resources. 1958, Huan county established a breeding farm for Tan sheep in Xiaonangou Township, which became the only breeding base for conservation of species in Gansu Province. 1998 was identified as a key livestock and poultry farm by Gansu Provincial Animal Husbandry Bureau. At present, 2,200 high-quality beach sheep are raised. Compared with the same type of sheep (coarse wool sheep), tan sheep's skin, wool and meat products have certain outstanding advantages and economic value. In recent years, the price of wool is around 40 yuan/piece, and the price of beach wool is less than 6 yuan/kg, so the market is not smooth. However, the demand for mutton has increased, the price has risen rapidly, and the sales ability has been enhanced. The production area focuses on the production of Tan sheep, especially Tan sheep and mutton, with comprehensive consideration, comprehensive development and utilization, comprehensive development and utilization while preserving species, development protection, skin, wool and meat, and insisting on breeding this variety. This is not contradictory to protecting the genetic resources of Tan sheep. The excellent genetic resources of Tan sheep are two hairs obtained after slaughter at the age of 65, 438+0 months, while lamb meat is after 65, 438+0 ~ 3 months, and sometimes even longer, which does not affect the breeding of two hairs.

In the north of Qingyang, there are vast natural pastures, which are green in summer and autumn. Clean blue sky, white clouds fluttering; On the valley slope, the slowly moving beach sheep, like white flowers floating on the green grass, echo each other and are picturesque. 300 years ago, Huanxian Tan sheep formed an excellent sheep breed characterized by producing light-colored fur. Its fur has a long-standing reputation for its white color, beautiful spikes, long-term wear without felt, warmth and warmth, and is known as the "treasure of fur".

The yield of Tan sheep in Huan County accounts for about L/ 10 in China and13 in Gansu Province, which is one of the key producing areas of Tan sheep in Gansu Province. According to the fur quality, Huanxian Tan sheep were divided into central producing area, general producing area and Yatan sheep producing area. The central producing areas are mainly distributed in the northern part of Huan County. Sheep's hair strands have obvious braided hair bundle structure, obvious bending, uniform radian, neat and beautiful tassels and good fur performance. Wool is also a good raw material for making carpets. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, Qingyang pure wool carpet industry has developed highly, especially pure wool art carpets and various tapestries, with complete varieties, exquisite patterns, gorgeous colors, three-dimensional scissors and exquisite craftsmanship, just like a relief work of art. The texture is hand-woven, thick, soft, smooth, shiny and elastic. For a long time, it has been exported to developed markets such as Europe, America and Japan.

territorial scope

Huan County Tan Sheep are produced in Tianchi Township, Yanwu Township, Hedao Township, Quzi Town, Mubo Town, Fanjiachuan Township, Bazhu Township, Huancheng Town, Hongde Township, Gengwan Township, Qintuanzhuang Township, Shancheng Township, Sweet Water Town, Qiu Nan Township, Luoshan Township, Hudong Township, Xiaonangou Township, Chedao Township and He Vivi Township. Located in the north of the east of Gansu Province, east longitude 106 o 2 1'40 "to 107 o 44'40", north latitude 36o 0 1'06'06 "to 37o 09' 10". East of Huachi County, this province; It borders Qingcheng County and zhenyuan county in the south; Southwest borders Pengyang County, Guyuan City, Ningxia; It is connected with Tongxin County in Ningxia in the west; North of Yanchi County, Ningxia; The northeast is adjacent to Dingbian County, Shaanxi Province. The width from east to west is about 124_, and the length from north to south is about 127_, with a total area of 9236_2. The stock is 3 1.4 million, and the slaughter is 1.76 million, and the mutton output is 2740 tons.