Local traders first reported this unusual price to Turmush, after which a comment was obtained directly from the animal's owner — Arstanbek Supataev.
According to Supataev, his activity is not classical farming, but rather expert selection and resale of the best breed representatives: “I do not maintain a permanent farm. My job involves traveling to farms, finding outstanding sheep and rams, purchasing them, and bringing them to the market. This time, I put up for sale the son of the famous ram nicknamed Ushastik. Indeed, I set the price at $10,000 at the market,” he says.
Despite the high interest, there was no buyer at the market for that amount. However, later potential clients came to Arstanbek's home, and after negotiations, the price was lowered — from $10,000 to $5,000.
According to Supataev, such sums are no longer sensational for the Chui region: In recent years, sheep priced at $3,000–$4,000 have become a common occurrence at local markets. Periodically, elite individuals are put up for sale, with prices reaching $10,000 and above.
In April 2021, the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources, and Regional Development registered a new Kyrgyz meat-fat breed of sheep called “Arashan.”
The differences of the “Arashan” breed from other breeds:
- The Kyrgyz meat-fat breed “Arashan” was developed from 1970 to 2021 in the farms of the Kyrgyz Republic. When creating the breed, producers of the Gissar breed, imported from Tajikistan in 1977, were used, which were crossed with local coarse-wool ewes. Animals of the second generation from the absorbing crossbreeding, meeting the requirements of the desired type, were bred “in themselves.”
- The Kyrgyz meat-fat breed “Arashan” has excellent meat-fat qualities, large size, a fat tail, high growth and development energy, and is highly adapted to conditions in high mountain and valley steppes.
- Sheep of the Kyrgyz meat-fat breed “Arashan” have a compact body, satisfactory exterior, strong constitution, and a light and durable skeleton.
- Rams and ewes are polled.
- The live weight of 7-8 month old lambs is 48–61 kg, one-year-old young stock is 60-78 kg, and adult rams weigh 109-177 kg.
- Four genealogical lines have been formed.
In total, there are 5,832 sheep of this breed in the republic. The approximate cost of a lamb is $1,000, and for sheep, it is $5,000.
