“I started my career in a school, working there for three years, and then moved to the children's sports school in the Bakai-Ata district. In total, I have been coaching for 15 years, and my first students are already part of the national team. Three years ago, I received the title of honored coach in Greco-Roman wrestling. My interest in wrestling began in childhood when I followed my father and older brother. Everyone in our family is passionate about this sport, so I decided to make it my profession,” shares Niyazbek.
He also notes that in rural areas, it is not wise to be idle and wait for a salary; it is better to engage in agriculture and livestock breeding. “At first, I started with horse breeding, and after ten years, I switched to sheep, as it turned out to be less complicated. Eight years ago, I brought Gissar sheep from Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, and then, while taking care of them, I noticed the Areshan breed at an exhibition, appreciating their beauty and size. Two years ago, I started breeding Areshans, and now I already have 70 heads of this breed,” he recounts.
A year ago, Niyazbek purchased a two-week-old ram named Baiger for $40,000. This ram is the son of a famous ram nicknamed Frenkel. “This year, I expect offspring from Baiger and hope that they will sell for good prices. I sold one lamb, which was only one day old, for $7,000. Later, I sold a one-month-old lamb for $15,000 in the village of Madaniyat. All the lambs turn out to be strong and beautiful, just like the ram himself. Therefore, we can set high prices for them. Breeding Areshan sheep is much more profitable than ordinary Kyrgyz ones, as their value is higher, and they justify the care they require, while eating the same grass and feed,” emphasizes Sadyrbekov.
Sadyrbekov raises five daughters and a son together with his wife.
In April 2021, the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources, and Regional Development officially registered a new Kyrgyz meat-fat breed of sheep called "Areshan."
The "Areshan" breed differs from others in the following ways:
- It was created from 1970 to 2021 in the farms of Kyrgyzstan, based on Gissar rams brought from Tajikistan in 1977, which were crossed with local ewes.
- Sheep of this breed have excellent meat-fat characteristics, large sizes, a developed fat tail, and high growth rates, making them well adapted to the conditions of high mountains and valley steppes.
- Their body is compact, with a satisfactory exterior and strong constitution.
- Rams and ewes have polled horns.
- The live weight of lambs at the age of 7-8 months ranges from 48 to 61 kg, one-year-old sheep from 60 to 78 kg, and adult rams from 109 to 177 kg.
- Four genealogical lines have been formed.
In the republic, there are 5,832 Areshan sheep. The approximate cost of a lamb is about $1,000, and a sheep is about $5,000.
