Duolang sheep from Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region – dubbed the “Treasure of Xinjiang” with only around 1,000 left in the world – are becoming vogue as the pets and status symbols of the super-rich in China.
Also known as Maigaiti by the locals, it is a crossbreed between a local sheep species and a fat-rumped one introduced from Afghanistan
The sheep’s popularity is due to its peculiar cartoonish physical features: it has a large, curved nose, big eyes, long floppy ears, and a plump rear. It takes only five months for the sheep to reach maturity, with its wool changing color from black to white during this period.
A mature ram weighs around 150 kilograms and a ewe about 90 kilograms. Nearly 95% of the animal can be used for food or other purposes. The meat is juicy and does not have the usual smell of mutton.
Duolang sheep are easy to raise because they eat a wide variety of food, are highly resistant to disease and can adapt to different environments.
The most prized Duolang sheep is said to be in the possession of a farmer in Yopurga County who initially sold the sheep for RMB950 a few vdays after it was born in 2005 and then bought it back for RMB1 million when it proved to be a winning breeder.
His animal rose to prominence due to videos of it on websites.
“I can’t believe the offer has reached 14 million yuan now,” the man said, adding that the previous offer over Chinese New Year this year was 6 million yuan (US$939,000).
He said he has continued to decline the ever-increasing offers because the sheep has brought him his fortune and allowed him to buy four houses and four cars.
U have one Duolang Sheep from China too david san |
發表於 2011-12-16 11:05 AM
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發表於 2011-12-16 11:21 AM
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