Ancient Sheep Breed Originated On Asia
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With a U.S. population of only about 1,500 head, Karakuls are a rare sheep breed with a rich history. Dwight and Lynn McKay of Newmanstown, Penn., first discovered the flavor of Karakul meat but it wasn't until the couple saw some live Karakuls, that they "fell in love with how they look."
"We first met Karakuls as dinner," Lynn explains. "An acquaintance with a non-registered flock was selling frozen meat, and we really liked it. But then we actually saw some Karakuls at a show in Maryland and realized how lovely they are to look at. They come in almost any color under the sun and that really appealed to us. I had always wanted to spin so we thought we'd get some for the fibre."
The couple calls their breeding operation, "Caledonia Karakuls," and they have been active in the show ring, as well as weaving rugs. They've also done extremely well with the shorn fleeces they've entered in shows. They now have a breeding flock of 19 sheep.
The breed is native to central Asia, where it dates back to 1400 B.C. It was named after the village of Karakul in Uzbekistan. Due to the harsh conditions in this region, the sheep developed an ability to thrive under adverse conditions such as limited water supply, scant vegetation and high altitude. This hardiness remains today.
Karakuls are medium sized and have long, straight and very strong wool that would reach the ground if not shorn twice a year. Rams weigh between 175 and 225 lbs., while ewes average between 100 and 150 lbs. They have a higher-than-average lamb survival rate, due to the long, narrow heads and slender shoulders of the lambs that allows for easier births.
The adult sheep have wide, broad tails that store 7 to 9 lbs. of fat as a source of nourishment, similar to the camel's hump. Rams can be polled or horned, and all Karakuls have long ears that always point downward and slightly forward.
Their "low grease content" wool is a mixture of coarse and fine fibers, varying widely in color and pattern, and is used in making woven rugs, saddle blankets, wall hangings and outer garments. It is also excellent for felting.
"We have everything from really dark, shiny blacks to bright fall red, deep chocolate, white and chocolate mixes," Lynn explains. "The meat tastes wonderful and is fairly lean. Karakuls are very popular with people of Middle Eastern decent because they are familiar with them."
The breed possesses a strong flocking instinct, and can be run on open range as well as in fenced pastures, according to the American Karakul Sheep Registry.
"When faced with danger, they will join together in a circle with the lambs in the middle," the registry's website points out. "They do not herd well, however; herding dogs find them a great frustration."
Karakuls breed out of season and produce three lamb crops in two years. The McKays say they've had a high percentage of twins, but the breed is generally more likely to have singles.
Lambs are born with beautifully patterned, short, curly coats that were once of major economic importance, due to their popularity in the fashion industry. The silky newborn lamb pelts, known as Persian Lamb or Boadtail, were used extensively in America in the early 1900's as a fabric for coats, jackets and hats. The breed was first imported to the U.S. in 1909, but was almost lost due to crossbreeding.
While large herds of Karakuls can still be found in Central Asia, Europe, and South Africa, the North American population is limited to small scale operations whose main interest has been to simply sustain the breed's presence here and preserve historical bloodlines.
When selling their stock, the McKays usually ask $150 for unproven ram lambs, and $200 for unproven ewe lambs. Bred or proven, or champion ewes sell for $250 to $350.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Caledonia Karakuls, Dwight and Lynn McKay, 797 Fawn Hollow Road, Newmanstown, Penn. 17073 (ph 717 721-9439; caledon@ptd.net; www.caledonia karakuls.com) or American Karakul Sheep Registry, 11500 Highway 5, Boonville, Mo. 65233 (ph 660 838-6340; aksr@ iland.net; www.karakulsheep.com/
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Ancient Sheep Breed Originated On Asia 29-6-9 With a U.S. population of only about 1,500 head, Karakuls are a rare sheep breed with a rich history. Dwight and Lynn McKay of Newmanstown, Penn., first discovered the flavor of Karakul meat but it wasn't until the couple saw some live Karakuls, that they "fell in love with how they look."
"We first met Karakuls as dinner," Lynn explains. "An acquaintance with a non-registered flock was selling frozen meat, and we really liked it. But then we actually saw some Karakuls at a show in Maryland and realized how lovely they are to look at. They come in almost any color under the sun and that really appealed to us. I had always wanted to spin so we thought we'd get some for the fibre."
The couple calls their breeding operation, "Caledonia Karakuls," and they have been active in the show ring, as well as weaving rugs. They've also done extremely well with the shorn fleeces they've entered in shows. They now have a breeding flock of 19 sheep.
The breed is native to central Asia, where it dates back to 1400 B.C. It was named after the village of Karakul in Uzbekistan. Due to the harsh conditions in this region, the sheep developed an ability to thrive under adverse conditions such as limited water supply, scant vegetation and high altitude. This hardiness remains today.
Karakuls are medium sized and have long, straight and very strong wool that would reach the ground if not shorn twice a year. Rams weigh between 175 and 225 lbs., while ewes average between 100 and 150 lbs. They have a higher-than-average lamb survival rate, due to the long, narrow heads and slender shoulders of the lambs that allows for easier births.
The adult sheep have wide, broad tails that store 7 to 9 lbs. of fat as a source of nourishment, similar to the camel's hump. Rams can be polled or horned, and all Karakuls have long ears that always point downward and slightly forward.
Their "low grease content" wool is a mixture of coarse and fine fibers, varying widely in color and pattern, and is used in making woven rugs, saddle blankets, wall hangings and outer garments. It is also excellent for felting.
"We have everything from really dark, shiny blacks to bright fall red, deep chocolate, white and chocolate mixes," Lynn explains. "The meat tastes wonderful and is fairly lean. Karakuls are very popular with people of Middle Eastern decent because they are familiar with them."
The breed possesses a strong flocking instinct, and can be run on open range as well as in fenced pastures, according to the American Karakul Sheep Registry.
"When faced with danger, they will join together in a circle with the lambs in the middle," the registry's website points out. "They do not herd well, however; herding dogs find them a great frustration."
Karakuls breed out of season and produce three lamb crops in two years. The McKays say they've had a high percentage of twins, but the breed is generally more likely to have singles.
Lambs are born with beautifully patterned, short, curly coats that were once of major economic importance, due to their popularity in the fashion industry. The silky newborn lamb pelts, known as Persian Lamb or Boadtail, were used extensively in America in the early 1900's as a fabric for coats, jackets and hats. The breed was first imported to the U.S. in 1909, but was almost lost due to crossbreeding.
While large herds of Karakuls can still be found in Central Asia, Europe, and South Africa, the North American population is limited to small scale operations whose main interest has been to simply sustain the breed's presence here and preserve historical bloodlines.
When selling their stock, the McKays usually ask $150 for unproven ram lambs, and $200 for unproven ewe lambs. Bred or proven, or champion ewes sell for $250 to $350.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Caledonia Karakuls, Dwight and Lynn McKay, 797 Fawn Hollow Road, Newmanstown, Penn. 17073 (ph 717 721-9439; caledon@ptd.net; www.caledonia karakuls.com) or American Karakul Sheep Registry, 11500 Highway 5, Boonville, Mo. 65233 (ph 660
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