Livestock husbandry of Mongolia
Some pecularities of livestock species of nature Mongolian
breeds
Livestock husbandry of Mongolia
Livestock husbandry is the mainstay of Mongolia's economy and contributes
about 90 percent of agricultural GDP. Livestock and livestock processed
exports amount to about one- third of foreign exchange earnings.
By the end of 2002 there were 243.2 thousand households with livestock
among which 175.9 thousand households being herder's families. As an average,
a herder's family takes care for 136 head of livestock.
Five traditional kinds of livestock (camels, horses, cattle, sheep and
goats) are kept in Mobgolia. On January 1, 2003 the total livestock
number
was 23.9 million head including 253.0 thousand camels, 1988.9 thousand
horses, 1884.3 thousand cattle including 426.0 thousand yaks, 10636.6
thousand sheep and 9134.8 thousand goats.
645.9 thousand head of pure breed livestock, 937.5 thousand head of crosses
and 1152.4 thousand head of the native best strains representing 42
breed
and strains are bred in Mongolia. Close to 80 percent of the country'
s total land area, or 128.9 million ha, is pasture land. The carrying
capacity is 35 head of livestock (in sheep unit) per 100 ha. Annual production
of animal fodder is equal to 330.3- 438.6 thousand tons feed unit out
of which 90-92.2 percent are hay.
225-250 thousand tons of meat, 300.0 - 375.0 thousand tons of milk, 3.0
thousand tons of cashmere, more than 10.0 thousand tons of wool and
about
5.0 million pieces of skin are prepared in Mongolia annually. Washed
wool and cashmere and goods made of them, like carpet, industrially
prepared
meat, hides and leather goods are exported.
Some pecularities of livestock species of native Mongolian
breeds
Native Mongolian livestock species were formed under conditions of migratory
husbandry, with year- round grazing. The specific biological features
of native Mongolian livestock species are as follows:
High viability, adaptation to the harsh continental climate(- 25- 35°C
in winter and + 25 - +30°C in summer), ability to graze on poor vegetation
(they can survive even when they lose during winter and spring 25 percent
of their autumn live weight), fast recuperation, high genetic potential
to produce cheap but tasty meat and other types of products with high
quality.
Intelligence, obedience and high mothering instinct. They are very
intelligience at finding places which protect them from cold and wind.
They usually
seek fresh water and pasture, are not kept long on trampled pasture and
do not drink dirty water. Mothers frequently avoid their babies if the
latters are kept on dirty places. They are very sensitive to changing
wheather conditions. For example, if cattle are noisy before leaving
pasture,
the day will turn cold with snow and storms. If they graze on hills,
the day will turn warm and not windy.
If they graze on valleys and low lands, the day will be stormy. In summer,
rain is to be expected if calves keep close to their mothers, as if
seeking
greater protection.A bull calling in rain indicates that the sky clear
up. The severe winter is to be expected if in summer, cattle and calves
jump frequently pursuing each other with tail in the air.
Females usually seperate from their herd and prefer to choose uninhabited
places for giving birth. Baby animals are able to find mothers by their
smell during the first 3 days after birth and by their voice for the
following days.
Animals are very watchful. Due to highly developed organs of sight
and ear they are easily frightened of any unpleasant sounds and objects.
Cattle are bred mostly in high mountain and forest steppe, horses in
steppe, camels in Gobi desert and sheep and goats in all regions.
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