What can be cooked from squid: quick and tasty

The coarse-haired Karachai breed of sheep was bred in Karachay-Cherkessia, combining the quality and quantity of meat, wool, and milk. The Karachai sheep owe their special qualities to their individuality - they are not mixed with representatives of other breeds.

Sheep of the Karachai breed have their own distinctive features. The characteristics of the breed include the following features.

The robust build and sturdy hooves allow the animals to easily navigate the mountain slopes.
Representatives from Karachay are relatively small in size - males gain weight up to 70 kilograms, females can grow up to 50 kilograms, although there are exceptions. So, individuals with more powerful weight were noted - 90 and 70 kilograms, respectively.
The body is up to 150-160 centimeters long and reaches 50-60 centimeters at the withers.
Sheep have a small elongated head. Karachay males have large spiral horns. Females have smaller horns, directed upward and to the sides.
The tail of sheep is about 45 centimeters long and forms an English letter S in shape, at the base it is wider due to the accumulation of fat tail fat there.
The coat of animals from Karachayevo is usually black, but in some individuals gray and red shades of wool drop. Although the breed is designated as coarse-wooled, the fleece of the Karachai sheep is warm and light.

A sagging fat tail is a supply of nutrients from which nutrition will enter the body of a ram or sheep when there is a lack of feed.

Features of the Karachai breed

Karachai lambs and lambs are distinguished by high resistance to diseases, and they are in good health. This is explained by the access to adequate nutrition - animals graze on the Caucasian mountain slopes and eat only the best herbs. From generation to generation, health genes were passed on to new lines, making animals hardy and able to withstand frost, rain, snow and windy weather. Karachay sheep almost do not suffer from pulmonary diseases, they are not characterized by diseases of the extremities.

Today you can find photos of intra-breed types of sheep from Karachayevo, namely Kabardian, Circassian and Ossetian. Each of the types is valuable for its quality. There are three types:

kara-muz - owners of longer silky wool, predominantly black,
kekbash - sheep of gray shades, are considered the largest in weight, height, and constitution,
cuff - hornless animals with black wool, are distinguished by the presence of a large amount of fluff, but are of the meat type, since they give meat that is more tasty than that of horned representatives.

Breed productivity

Karachay sheep produce meat, famous far beyond the borders of Karachay-Cherkessia, which is distinguished by its taste. From representatives of the breed, wool of exceptional properties is cut. Sheep from Karachayevo produce excellent milk.

From Karachai rams, a woolen fleece is sheared up to three kilograms a year, from females - up to 2.5 kilograms. The composition of the Karachay fleece is silky and light, contains up to 65 percent of down, the rest of the components are awn and hair. This is a good material for cloaks and warm clothes, as the fleece falls well into dense felt material. Farmers shear sheep twice a year.

Sheep from Karachay are considered to be one of the milkiest representatives, yielding more milk than other fat-tailed breeds. The average daily milk yield from these sheep is up to three liters with very high fat content - up to 9.5 percent.

The early maturing Karachai breed produces on average 110 lambs per hundred ewes, which, when they reach the age of three months, gain up to 40% of the weight of an adult animal. Slaughter per carcass is 50 percent on average. Cooked and Karachai mutton dishes are especially popular among gourmets.

The value of the Karachai sheep

Representatives of the breed are in many ways superior to other sheep.

They are unpretentious and do not require special maintenance.
Sheep have excellent health, producing strong offspring.
Karachay sheep can easily endure the cold and a sharp change in climate.
Not mixed with other breeds, the Karachai breed was formed for millennia, passing on all the positive qualities to the offspring.
Sheep from Karachayevo, who have lived far from the presence of humans for a long time, at the genetic level are able to choose the most valuable herbs, providing themselves with adequate nutrition.

The disadvantages of the breed can be attributed only to the fact that animals are used to living in areas that are characterized by high humidity and good natural food, so keeping them in areas with an arid climate is problematic.

Today, Karachai sheep are inhabitants not only of Karachay-Cherkessia, but also of such North Caucasian areas as North Ossetia and Kabardino-Balkaria.

Karachais inhabit Karachay-Cherkessia and are of Turkic origin. They are a very interesting people, characterized by their large numbers, special wedding traditions and beautiful culture.

Number

More than 200 thousand Karachais live in Russia. Most of it is concentrated in Karachay-Cherkessia. In the CIS, no more than 5,000 people live - these are Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

History

The Karachais lived in the Karachay region, they had their own princes and an established way of life. However, at the beginning of the 19th century, the Russian army invaded here, which led to the annexation of Karachay to the Russian Empire. This helped to save Karachay from defeat and preserve all the customs that were formed over the long years of the people's life. The independence movement began in 1831, which caused some Karachais to leave their native lands. Their descendants still live in other countries, for example, Turkey. The most difficult period in the life of the people was the deportation, which began in 1943. It was caused by the occupation of the territory by fascist troops. In order to avoid possible cooperation with the fascist army, the Soviet government massively resettled people to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The people were rehabilitated only in 1957. At the same time, the Karachay-Cherkess Autonomous Region was created, which was later transformed into a republic.

Language

The main language is Karachay-Balkar. It is considered quite difficult due to the lack of study. One of its main features is the presence of several number systems, including quaternary, decimal and decimal. Karachais also know Russian.

Life

The basis of the life of the Karachais has always been animal husbandry. Farming was also developed, Karachais were engaged in the cultivation of wheat, corn, and garden crops. Of the crafts, the most widespread are the manufacture of carpets, leather processing, knitting, and the manufacture of wood products.
The most significant in the life of every Karachai was the community to which he belonged. The land and all livestock were the property of the community, all its members could use them.

Dwelling

The Karachais built houses from logs, and the logs could have different lengths. Due to its great thickness, each house seemed monumental. Some residential buildings were defensive in nature. For example, arbaz were a set of buildings connected together, in the center of which was a courtyard. Each such building had access to the arbaz. All weapons and supplies were stored here, and the courtyard was covered from above. The main entrance to the courtyard was a gate made of solid wood.
A chimney was used to get the light inside the house. The hearth was located near the wall, and the chimney itself went out onto the roof. Karachais settled together, even married sons lived with their parents in special premises. A special room was allocated for receiving guests, sometimes a whole house played its role.

Character

The Karachais are a people of the mountains, which characterizes them as isolated from other people. Their main features were independence and a desire for mutual assistance.
The decisive role is played by "Yozden Adet", which regulates rights and etiquette. This code has rules that men and women follow. Respect for a woman is primarily based on the understanding that she is the daughter of her parents.

Appearance

clothing

The main elements of the men's national costume of the Karachais are:

Tunic shirt.
Kölek, which is sewn from black or white fabric. The festive version can be striped.
Chepken - outerwear, which is now called Circassian. This is mainly a festive type of clothing made of broadcloth. Chepken was decorated with silver coins. A characteristic feature of this piece of clothing was the special cutouts in which the charges were stored. They are called gazyry.
The belt of the Karachais is usually narrow, made of leather, and decorated with silver plaques. The belt is always an important element of clothing, without it a man is not supposed to appear in public.

Pants in a traditional Karachai costume are called kyonchek. They are slightly narrowed and have a wide wedge. Legs are put on over them, which can reach the knees. The headdress is a cap-hat, typical for many Caucasian peoples. On holidays they put on an astrakhan hat, and on a hike they put on a burka. Shoes are made from rawhide and are worn almost all year round. With the onset of winter, they put on felt boots.

Women's clothing had its own characteristics. The girls wore dresses decorated with yarns. The festive dress was made of velvet, as a rule, it had a dark red color. Such dresses were decorated with embroidery from gold threads. The kamar belt was considered the most expensive, the hat looked no less luxurious.

Traditions

The most striking tradition of the Karachai people is “bride theft”. The abduction is of a purely formal nature, but sometimes this event happens quite unexpectedly. Often the bride is stolen by conspiracy, which allows her to choose her companion. He should be in any case - play the role of an escort.
The theft is usually committed by the groom's friends or relatives. The bride is taken to the groom's house, and the parents rush to return the girl. The girl should stay, but her family shouldn't give up so easily. They send friends and relatives to get her back. In this case, a whole detachment of his friends will be on duty at the groom's house.
All this is a recreation of the old tradition, which clearly illustrates the customs of the Karachais. The brides were indeed abducted and held in the house until they gave their consent. Nowadays, real kidnappings are rare, although not out of the question.
Another wedding ceremony was protection - the groom was supposed to celebrate the wedding in a separate room with his friends. After that, he had to go on a military campaign, so appearing at a wedding in front of everyone could bring on the evil eye. The bride should sit in the corner for the entire wedding and show restraint.
A very important element of every wedding was the bride's headscarf. Before taking it off, the bride had to enter the hall while they showered her with coins and held a dagger over her head. Such a ceremony was supposed to protect her and the whole family, give wealth and happiness. The headscarf on the bride's head was not simple, but threefold: one she sewed herself, and the other two were made by relatives from the side of her family and the family of her husband.

Wedding

Wedding events have always been associated with great joy and great expense. Not everyone could afford such an event. The wedding necessarily involved the organization of the celebration and the payment of the kalym. Then and now relatives are engaged in organizing the wedding, they collect money, although the young are also obliged to participate in this. The main elements of a wedding are:

kalym;
dowry by the bride;
present;
the cost of the celebration itself.

First, the groom's family sends money after receiving consent, together with them you need to give treats, including wine and sweets. Then comes the payment of kalym. Previously, kalym was paid in cash and livestock. Now there is no need to donate cattle, but money is a prerequisite. Ransom for the bride is impossible without them. For the third time, the groom pays money at the bride. In addition to the previously agreed amount, they should be presented with decorations and gifts, which he will hand over to the bride's relatives. Moreover, he should not do this alone - his relatives also participate in presenting gifts and give jewelry purchased at their own expense.
It may seem that the groom's family and the groom himself have to spend huge sums, but the expenses of the bride's family are disproportionately greater. The dowry, which she is obliged to present, necessarily includes all the utensils that the young will use in everyday life. Her relatives should also give gifts to the groom's family. They have to bear gifts twice: the first time - before the wedding, the second time - after the so-called stay. The most expensive is the wedding celebration, which can last for several days. Often, relatives on both sides invest the amounts that have to be borrowed.
In recent years, weddings have been more modest, due to the penetration of Islam into the life of the Karachais. Muslim weddings exclude booze, which can be very expensive, gifts and kalym. Guests are invited only from among those close and trusted.

Culture

The people of Karachai have learned how to perfectly trim fabrics from felt. The technique allowed them to quickly pattern the fabric on both sides. The main patterns are rhombuses and triangles. If it was required to carry out inlay, they used a different technique. To do this, they took two different felts and put them one on top of the other. Applique, usually in red and white colors, has become widespread. The Karachais did not confine themselves exclusively to geometric patterns, embroidering animals, humans and floral ornaments.
Nowadays, the manufacture of carpets is developing. Karachais weave carpets with complex patterns, adopting the technique from the Circassians and creating absolutely unique patterns. Gold embroidery is becoming obsolete as it is a laborious business. Silk threads are more often used, thanks to which delicate work can be created. Choreographic art is actively developing - the Karachais have a lot of dances. The most popular musical instrument is the flute. The accordion became popular, which was borrowed from the Russian people. In choral songs, the men pull one note while one recites the lyrics. Choral singing can be accompanied by a dance in which men also participate.

Folklore

The folklore reflected the life of the people, everyday activities, the struggle for life. Many works are dedicated to the praise of the exemplary highlanders and ridicule the most serious sins, which, in their opinion, were gluttony and cowardice. Men composed songs for work, and women sang about love and composed lullabies. The Soviet period was associated with the war, to which many legends and choral songs were dedicated.
The Karachais paid attention to fairy tales and anecdotes, proverbs, stories about the struggle against the khans.
In the Soviet period, poetry began to prevail, dating back to the traditions of the people. The Karachais drew a lot of inspiration from the works of Russian authors. Many Karachai authors called on compatriots to fight against fascism, appealed to pride and a sense of duty, called to be brave during the battle.

The Karachais are one of those peoples who focused on the culture of others in order to create their own. They had to face very difficult times when the deportation took place. But they all survived and now live in peace.

Igor Nikolaev

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In addition to the famous Karachai horses, the Karachai breed of sheep is also widely known.

According to experts in the field of sheep breeding, this is an independent, without admixture of other breed groups, a kind of sheep. It took a long period of time to obtain the special qualities of these animals. Sheep of this species can feed on pastures that are inaccessible to humans, where very valuable medicinal ecologically pure herbs grow, such as variegated oats, meadow polyzone, mountain clover, and so on. These animals are highly resistant to severe frost and rain. In addition, they have a highly developed immunity. Karachay sheep never get sick with lung diseases and diseases of limbs and hooves.

Among the representatives of the Karachai breed of sheep, there are no lame, sick or weak animals. Karachai lambs are born with thick wool and strong bones.

Specialists-sheep breeders divide sheep according to the directions: woolen, dairy and meat. We can say about the Karachai sheep that it is simply universal. Firstly, it is distinguished by high milk productivity, and milk is distinguished by high taste. Secondly, the taste qualities of Karachai sheep meat are known all over the world. And finally, thirdly, it gives a long, warm, light and silky coat.

These animals are known not only in our country, but also abroad. For example, in France, in the city of Bordeaux, there is still a restaurant called "Karachaevskaya Sheep". His cuisine is famous for its lamb dishes, which are obtained from their personal flock of Karachai sheep.

For animals of this breed of sheep, medium sizes are usually characteristic. Usually, its representatives have a body length of 160 centimeters, and a height at the withers - 60 cm. One and a half-year-old individuals weigh an average of 80 kilograms, and rams - 94 kg. However, there are cases when, with proper care and good conditions of detention, individual specimens at the age of 3.5 years gained 137 kilograms in live weight.

The Karachaevskaya breed is one of the most productive breeds in the world for production. An ewe can give three liters of milk during the day, and the world famous dairy breed Kimbshar can give out half a liter less in the same time.

As for such a valuable sheep breeding product as wool, it is worth noting the good performance of Karachai animals in this area as well. Research by specialists has shown that this type of sheep is sheared twice a year and an average of 3 kilograms of wool can be obtained from each head. In terms of quality, this wool is considered the best in the Caucasus.

During one of the practical studies, the following result was recorded: during the autumn haircut (October), the animal under study gave 1 kg 607 grams of high-quality wool raw materials. Spring haircut (month of May) added another 2 kilograms 20 grams. Total for the year turned out to be 3 kilograms 627 grams.

In terms of their live weight, the Karachai sheep are second only to one sheep breed - the American "Lincolns".

In the USA, the breeding of this breed took place thanks to the successes of American scientists in the field of genetic engineering. However, as many experts note, the meat of "Lincolns" in its taste is much inferior to the meat of Karachai sheep, and so much so that they cannot be compared at all.

If we continue to compare these two breeds, then the milk that Lincoln animals give is also significantly inferior both in taste and in quantitative characteristics to the milk of animals of the Karachai breed.

Three subspecies are distinguished within the breed: kara-muz, cuff and kekbash.

The first is distinguished by its black color and the longest and silky coat. The second is characterized by hornlessness of animals, also black color and woolen fleece, rich in down. Tumak refers to the meat breed direction, is distinguished by early maturity and more pronounced than that of horned relatives, the taste of meat. The third subspecies differs from the first two in gray color and in its size - the kekbash animals are larger than their relatives of the other subspecies.

In addition, other breeds of this region are also called Karachai - Kabardian, Ossetian and Circassian.

Breed benefits

There is one more important feature of this species of animals, which distinguishes it favorably from other representatives of the sheep tribe. This advantage is the unique natural immunity, in other words, the increased resistance of the organism of these animals to various kinds of diseases, as well as a high level of resistance to sudden temperature changes.

In Soviet times, specialists from VASKhNIL (now the Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences) conducted a number of studies to find out whether this breed is independent and unique. The breeders of this respected scientific institution conducted the following experiment: they crossed a Russian breed of ewes with a Karachai ram-producer. The offspring obtained as a result of this experience did not inherit absolutely anything (even outwardly) from their mother.

At the same time, the entire offspring had all the external signs and quality indicators of their fathers. A reverse experiment was also carried out, in which the ewes of the Karachai variety were crossed with rams-producers of other breed groups. The young animals obtained as a result of this experiment were weak and had a low level of immunity, that is, they practically did not take over anything from the beneficial qualities of their mother. On the basis of these and other studies carried out, scientists have given an unequivocal answer - this is completely independent and does not have any impurities of other breed groups.

Karachais have been engaged in sheep breeding for more than one millennium, and there is strong evidence of this. For example, even in cloudy weather, shepherds are able to determine the exact time of day only by the pupils of Karachai sheep. In addition, a long-term method is known, thanks to which the Karachais instilled in their sheep immunity to such a terrible and dangerous disease as anthrax.

Its essence was as follows - the infected animal was killed, and its blood was collected in a separate container. Then it was mixed into food and water and allowed to eat and drink to healthy animals. The result of such many years of work was the persistent immunity of the Karachai cattle to this dangerous disease. In addition, in order to achieve from animals such qualities as unpretentiousness in food and resistance to weather disasters, it also takes more than one hundred years.

Sheep of the Karachai breed is a separate species that is widespread in the North Caucasus. Animals graze in ecologically clean mountainous areas, inaccessible to most people. Perhaps that is why they have strong immunity, they easily tolerate frosty and rainy weather. On grazing, sheep feed on juicy fresh grass, among which there are medicinal species: mountain clover, variegated oats, meadow polyzone.

History of the breed

The Karachay breed of sheep has been known for a very long time. Many travelers and scientists who visited the North Caucasus at the beginning of the 19th century described horses and sheep raised by local residents. Lamb is the main food here, and sheep's milk produces delicious butter and cheese.

Reference. Modern research has shown that the Karachai sheep is a separate breed without admixtures of representatives of other groups.

Sheep breeding is the main occupation of the Karachais. Raising livestock for sale here has always been very large-scale. As of the beginning of the 20th century, the Karachais were selling over 100 thousand sheep and 25 thousand poods of wool annually. Also among the main livestock products for sale were sheepskin and butter.

The improvement of the local North Caucasian breed has been carried out for centuries. So, the Karachais managed to achieve stable immunity in animals to anthrax. To do this, they collected blood from a killed infected animal and mixed it into food for healthy sheep. As a result of this "vaccination", the animals did not suffer from this terrible disease. Also, as a result of natural selection, Karachai sheep have developed unpretentiousness to food and excellent genetics: among the livestock of this breed, it is impossible to find weak, sick or lame individuals. All animals have a strong bone and thick coat.

Main characteristics and description

Karachay sheep are of medium size. Their body length is 160 cm. The height at the withers reaches 60 cm. The weight of a sheep at the age of 18 months is 80 kg, of a ram - 94 kg. The highest indicator, which was obtained with competent care of animals, is 137 kg of weight at the age of 3.5 years. The animals have a high-strength hoof horn, which allows them to walk for a long time on grazing in the highlands.

All sheep of the Karachai breed are firmly built, have powerful legs and a deep chest, a small narrow head with a hump-nosed profile. The long tail, reaching 44 cm, with a curved end is one of the most characteristic distinctive features of the breed. The tail can accumulate up to 6 kg of fat. Representatives of the Karachai breed, with the exception of one species, have horns. In rams, they are spiral-shaped. Some animals have 3 or 4 horns.

The advantages of the Karachai breed:

Excellent taste of meat with a large yield. In terms of live weight, the Karachai breed is surpassed only by Lincoln sheep bred by genetic engineers in the United States. However, the palatability of the American meat breed is much inferior to the natural meat of the Karachai sheep.
High wool yield. Sheep have a dense cover, which is formed by growing in natural climatic conditions.
High quality milk.

The breed is coarse-haired. The quality of wool is the highest among similar breed groups. Up to 80% of the sheep in the flock are black. Also, the breed standard describes individuals with gray, white and red color.

Within the breed, there are 3 types:

k'ara-muyuz - sheep with long silky wool with wavy or straight braids, black color;
cuff - animals without horns, with a lot of fluff, the most delicious and juicy meat;
kekbash - sheep with gray wool, are distinguished by their large size and increased live weight in comparison with other types.

Productivity

Karachaevskaya is a versatile breed, it gives a large yield of wool and meat. Sheep and rams give on average 3 kg and 2.6 kg of wool per year, respectively. Also, the uterus of this breed is characterized by high milkiness: the yield of the dairy product is 30-50 kg from one individual. The milk of the Karachai sheep is very fatty - up to 9.6%. When slaughtered from one carcass, 47-56% of the lethal yield is obtained.

Karachay sheep gain weight very quickly. Representatives of this early maturing breed already at 3 months reach 40% of the mass of an adult. At birth, the average weight of a lamb is 3.6 kg. The number of offspring per 100 queens is 105-110.

The Karachaevskaya breed is unique, bred by the indigenous population of the North Caucasus and has the best productive characteristics. Due to the high immunity to infectious and colds, raising sheep of this breed is not particularly difficult. Excellent taste characteristics of meat and high wool yield bring the breed to one of the first places in terms of breeding prospects.

Kira Stoletova

The Karachaevskaya breed of sheep was bred in the region of Karachay-Cherkessia. The rams are characterized by the presence of a rough neck. Sheep produce a lot of high quality meat. Farmers appreciate the wool and the good milk yield that these animals bring. In addition, the breed shows a high level of disease resistance.

Sheep of the Karachaev breed

Appearance

Distinctive features of the Karachay sheep are as follows:

Body folding. Sheep are quite strong, have strong hooves, so they easily and without obstacles move around the mountainous terrain.
Representatives of this breed are small in size. The weight of rams is up to 75 kg, of females - 45–55 kg. These are average statistical data, which may differ, depending on the individual characteristics of the animal's body. Throughout the history of animal husbandry, farmers have grown to 90-100 kg. The body length of the lambs is 155 cm, the height at the withers is 55 cm.
Sheep have a small elongated head. This breed is distinguished by large horns that are twisted and have the appearance of a spiral. The horns of the females are smaller and directed upward.
The tail is 50 cm and more resembles the English letter "S". The base is wide and large (fat tail fat accumulates). The coat is black, but there are individuals of other shades: gray and red. It is a coarse-haired breed, but the fleece is warm and light in weight.

In the cavity of the fat tail, useful substances accumulate. If rams have difficulty in getting good food, the nutrients come from fat.

Peculiarities

Karachay sheep have a high level of disease resistance. They are less susceptible to the penetration of bacteria and microbes. This is due to good nutrition and the intake of nutrients into the body. Sheep graze in the meadows of the Caucasian mountains, use selected grass in their diet. New generations are distinguished by better health and genes.

Today rams have become more resilient and tolerate harsh climatic conditions well.

The Karachay sheep do not develop pathological diseases of the lungs and limbs. On the Internet there are unique photos of intrageneric: Kabardinskaya, Ossetian and Cherkesskaya. Each variety has distinctive features.

Common varieties:

Karamuse;
Kekbash;
Tumak.

Karamuse

These animals have a fairly light coat, which is soft and silky, the color is dark, often black. It shimmers beautifully in the sun, smooth and soft to the touch.

Kekbash

These sheep have become popular due to their size, excellent physique, and rapid weight gain. The coat is generally gray-white, coarse but light.

Tumak

Animals have a huge amount of fluff. This type of breed has good meat with excellent palatability. The coat is predominantly black in color.

Productivity

Sheep of the Karachaev breed are known even outside their native area. Many people are familiar with these animals because of their delicious meat. Wool is used in a variety of industries. Karachay sheep give a lot of good milk.

Every year 3-4 kg of valuable wool is sheared from rams, and sheep give up to 3 kg.

The fleece is silky, light and pleasant to the touch. It contains 70% fluff, the rest of the components are hair. It can be used for sewing cloaks and insulated things. Manufacturers make high density felt. Farm owners cut animals no more than 2 times a year.

This breed is one of the mildest, unlike other fat-tailed varieties. The average daily milk yield is 2.5-3 liters. The fat content is about 10%. Farmers often keep early maturing Karachay sheep, which produce up to 100 lambs per hundred ewes. Gourmets appreciate lamb for its high taste. When cutting one carcass, the slaughter is up to 45%.

Value

Representatives of this breed are superior in many respects to individuals of other types of sheep. The following distinctive characteristics can be distinguished.