Starting his business with just 10-15 sheep, the 42-year-old farmer initially raised the Gissar breed and then switched to the Ala-Too breed. “I became interested in farming 3-4 years ago. At first, I had only 10-15 sheep, but over time I set a goal to increase my flock,” Mamytov recounts.
Mamytov's workday begins early in the morning. He carefully monitors the feeding and watering of his sheep. “I wake up early, give one bale of alfalfa, then water them. After that, I give another bale of hay and in the evening, I feed each sheep with 300-400 grams of compound feed,” the farmer explains.
Mamytov notes that there are significant differences between breeding and regular sheep farming. “Sheep from my farm sell on the market for 25,000 to 50,000 soms, while breeding rams can sometimes cost over 100,000 soms,” he says, adding that after working in Russia, he started with regular sheep. “I sold them and bought 15-20 breeding sheep,” he talks about the beginning of his business. “We sell the best ram lambs for 100,000 to 450,000 soms, and ewe lambs for 15,000 to 50,000 soms,” Mamytov specifies.
Working in sheep farming requires considerable effort, especially during lambing season when it is essential to take care of newborn lambs. Mamytov pays special attention to this process. “I don’t give vitamins; I prefer to use natural feed. After the lambs are born, I add fish oil to their diet to help them grow faster and prevent them from nibbling on their mother’s wool. If the sheep get sick, I consult a veterinarian, buy medicines, and administer injections myself,” he says.
The farmer does not limit himself to just feeding the sheep; he also maintains cleanliness on his farm. “I love order. No matter how much trash is around the sheepfold, I always clean it up. The children are also taught to keep things tidy. After feeding, I gather the spilled hay and clean up the manure. If it gets wet, I put down dry manure to maintain comfortable conditions for the sheep,” Mamytov emphasizes.
His farm has two breeding rams. One is worth 200,000 soms, and the other is over 100,000 soms. “I brought the reddish-brown ram from Bishkek; he has four teeth and weighs 160 kilograms. His current price is 200,000 soms. The black ram, a ‘two-toothed’ one, costs over 100,000 soms,” the farmer explains.
Suyorbek Mamytov is married and raises five children: three daughters and two sons.
