Karakul Sheep raised mainly for meat, milk, wool, and pelts. The breed is originated in Central Asia. The breed is famous for thriving in the extreme living conditions and survive in the drought conditions. One of the fat-tailed breed, which stores fat in the tail.
Karakul Sheep breed information
Karakul breed is a multi-purpose breed that is raised for milk, meat, wool, and pelts.
Mature Karakul ram weighs 100 kg (220 lb) and ewe weighs 65 kg (140 lb).
Ewes are polled, Rams are generally horned but few are polled.
Karakul sheep are used for the pelts of lambs, called Persian lambskins or astrakhan, which were used to make a variety of warm, soft, and elegant garments.
Karakul has coarse wool so they are used to make carpets and outer garments.
Karakul sheep are resistant to internal parasites and foot rot.
Karakul has strong teeth which will help them live longer.
The pretty hardy breed can sustain extreme weather conditions.
Karakuls breed out of season can expect three lambing cycles in 2 years.
Have a strong flocking instinct and also good mothers. Very protective towards their young ones, can expect high lamb survival rate.
The Karakul wool comes in various shades of brown and gray also black.
The Karakul produces a lightweight, high-volume, strong fiber fleece.
The fleece weighs 2.5 to 3 kg with a staple length of 6 to 10 inches(15 to 25 cm)
Things to know
The name Karakul comes from the village of Kara Kul (or Black Lake), which lies in the Bokhara region between Turkmenistan and Afghanistan.
sheep are raised since 1400 BC
Karakul sheep are listed as Endangered.
Karakul breed belongs to fat-rumped sheep. The fat in the tail is utilized by the sheep during low food conditions. But the fat tail is highly valued cuisine in Asia.
Karakuls were introduced.to the United States between 1908 and 1929 for pelt production.
Newborn Karakul sheep pelts are very famous. They are black in color, tightly wound coils of fur and the lamb should be three days old.
Brief characteristics of Karakul Sheep
| Breed Name | Karakul Sheep |
| Other Name | Persian lamb |
| Country/Place of Origin | Central Asia |
| Breed Purposeamerica | meat and milk |
| Breed Size | large |
| Weight Ram(Male) | 100 kg (220 lb) |
| Ewe(Female) | 65 kg (140 lb) |
| Kidding | single |
| Good for Stall Fed | open grazing |
| Climate Tolerance | all conditions |
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